Webinars: Contract & Practice Administration Under COVID-19

Dear Members,

SIA has planned a series of webinars focusing on “Contract and Practice Administration under COVID-19”.

Note: If you are a non-SIA Member, you will need to register for a free non-member account in order to purchase seats for the session.

SIA Minor Works Contract 2012 – Administering the MWC 2012 in the light of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act

19th June 2020, Friday 

Speaker: Ar Catherine Loke & Mr Anil Changaroth 

The circuit breaker closure of workplaces and construction sites from 7 April to 1 June 2020, and the mandated staged resumption of work at construction sites, is unprecedented.  Although the enactment of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 has brought some clarity to an uncertain environment, it remains a challenge for contract administrators to administer contracts that were written without these scenarios in mind. 

This seminar, the first of a two-part series, will give some insight into the drafting philosophy behind the SIA Articles and Conditions of Contract for Minor Works 2012 (“MWC”), and examine the provisions for managing Extension of Time, Liquidated Damages and Performance Bond in the light these new challenges.  The concept of Force Majeure, and the circumstances which would give rise to its applicability, will also be discussed.

The speakers will also look at how applying the same fundamental principles to the SIA Article and Conditions of Building Contract 9th Edition and the SIA Building Contract 2016 can have a different result, due to the difference in contractual wording. 

SIA Minor Works Contract 2012 – Administering the MWC 2012 in the light of the recent changes to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act

26th June 2020, Friday 

Speaker: Ar Catherine Loke & Mr Edwin Lee 

Since the SIA Articles and Conditions of Contract for Minor Works 2012 (“MWC”) was published in 2012, there have been significant changes to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (“SOP Act”).

Interestingly, some clauses in the MWC have proven to be ahead of its time in its approach to managing payment.

This seminar, the second of a two-part series, will give some insight into the drafting philosophy behind the MWC, and examine the provisions for managing progress payment, deduction of liquidated damages and payment in the event of termination, in the light of new legislation and recent case law.

SMAP & AA Committee Combined Seminar: How to pursue unpaid fees using the SOP Act

03 July 2020, Friday 

Speaker: Ar Catherine Loke, Ar Joy Lim & Ar Chu Yang Keng

The Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (Cap. 30B) (“SOP Act”) was enactedin 2005 to “improve cashflow by expediting payment in the building and constructionindustry”. Fifteen years on, few Architects realise that the SOP Act is also applicable to consultancy agreements, and can be used to pursue unpaid fees.

This seminar will cover the technical requirements of the SOP Act, the effect of the COVID-19(Temporary Measures) Act 2020 on the operation of the SOP Act, and provide some insights fromfirsthand experience of two Architects who successfully pursued unpaid fees.