AN UNFAIR FIGHT

摘要

To tier one contractors, it comes in the form of cunningly labelled "alliance partnership agreements", which are based on the principle of securing the best supply chains, providing contract certainty and, of course, driving a good old hard-nosed margin along the way. To nervy public sector clients, desperately looking to penny pinch and renegotiate legacy terms, it's "framework fees" and contributes to driving innovation and learning. But to worn-out subcontractors, paying cash for contracts is an oppressive evil, albeit one that is increasingly necessary to secure work in times when many of their businesses are on life support machines (see page 9).