Alihankkija

Alihankkija, or subcontractor, refers to a person or company contracted by a primary contractor to perform part of a project or to supply specialized services or materials. Subcontractors are common in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, engineering, IT, and maintenance. The main contractor remains responsible to the client for the overall project, while the subcontractor is responsible to the main contractor under the terms of the subcontract. Subcontractors may themselves hire sub-subcontractors to carry out portions of the work.

Contractual arrangements define the scope of work, performance standards, timelines, payment terms, liability, and insurance. The subcontractor must comply with the requirements of the main contract, as well as applicable safety, quality, and regulatory rules. In many cases, the main contractor bears final liability to the client and can seek recourse against the subcontractor for defects or breaches. Payments to subcontractors often follow milestones or progress payments and may depend on the main contractor’s receipt of funds from the client.

Risks associated with subcontracting include delays, quality problems, insolvency of the subcontractor, and compliance or safety failures that affect the entire project. Effective management involves due diligence, clear written agreements, defined scopes, performance monitoring, and appropriate insurance cover. In public procurement, subcontracting is subject to additional transparency and compliance requirements, including potential restrictions on subcontracting and the need to disclose subcontractors.

Overall, subcontracting provides access to specialized expertise and flexibility, but introduces dependency and coordination challenges that require careful oversight.