Fighting for Subbies Rights
by BILL HOFFMAN
12th Feb 2019 5:00 AM
Subscriber only
FIVE years on, Cheryll Harper still wants answers.
Left unpaid $25,000 with the collapse of Walton Construction Queensland in October 2013, she is still struggling with an industry where there are those, that despite what the contract says, pay when they choose.
Looking in from the outside, the amount for the work and material Enzign Paints supplied to the heritage houses as part of the Coles Nambour job may not seem much.
But running a small business with overheads and wages to meet, it can and was devastating to the cash flow.
"The building game is very competitive," Ms Harper said.
"There is not a lot of money to pay workers. Every time you get a job you are told you are 10 per cent over (on the quote). When we do work on the Coast we have to run so tight and be defect free and even then have to chase the money."
Despite contracts stating payment in 14 days, she said, they can stretch to 30. Sometimes the wait for money can be for 50 days.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.