Erratic builders face dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Builders Association (Gapensi) has threatened to dismiss members who produce substandard work.

"We mean to offer quality service to boost our image in the public. We won't hesitate to dismiss members who do shoddy work," chapter chief Daniel Hutapea said as quoted by Antara over the weekend.

Builders may not handle government projects, which account for most local contractors' main incomes, unless they are Gapensi members.

Hutapea stressed that Indonesian builders have to offer quality service and products if they do not want to lose out to overseas competitors.

"Foreign contractors are equipped with better technology and substantial capital. Local builders will have difficulties in competing with them and in compensation, they will have to put quality above all else," he said as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile, chief of the city's public works office Dargono D. said that nowadays contractors can no longer make large profits by using substandard materials.

"Such manipulation will not only result in a shoddy project but also tarnish their company's reputation," he said. (pan)