Consumer Council receives 56 complaints this year relating to poor quality workmanship

This year alone the Consumer Council of Fiji reported that it had received 56 complaints relating to poor quality workmanship, absconding builders and delays in construction job completion, costing consumers $1.797 million.

Construction Industry Council President Gordon Jenkins has stressed that the construction industry is basically unregulated and allows for unscrupulous builders to take advantage of homeowners as an example of what they are facing.

He hopes the construction industry with the strong backing from the government will move forward with some urgency in introducing annual licensing of those directly involved in the construction industry.        

Jenkins says that the very foundation of licensing must rest with legislation, that the government must have the power to impose necessary penalties for questionable building activities adding that licensing of builders is a common requirement throughout the world and builders need to be licensed in Fiji to seriously strengthen the construction industry.     

In addition to pushing their efforts in encouraging licensing of the industry, the Construction Industry Council Conference will be held, from the 14th to the 16th of June this year.

Jenkins says that the overall objective will be to also come up with specific resolutions that lead to effective long-term solutions that will benefit the industry and the economy.