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The Role of Audio Transcription in Singapore Disputes: Construction Disputes

  • weitsinnlau
  • Mar 10
  • 4 min read

Updated: Apr 19

Construction worker standing in a construction site.

The construction industry in Singapore is currently expected to maintain its growth momentum. According to data published by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) earlier this year, total construction demand in 2026 was estimated to remain steady at S$47 billion to S$53 billion, with projections for 2026 and beyond remaining strong due to major infrastructure projects and residential developments. However, with high demand and complex project timelines, the industry frequently faces legal friction.



Common Construction Disputes in Singapore


Construction projects involve a complex web of developers, main contractors, subcontractors, and consultants. The most common causes of construction disputes include:


  • Payment Disputes: Often centred around the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (SOPA), which ensures contractors receive timely payment for work done.

  • Variation Orders: Disagreements over changes in the scope of work or materials that were not in the original contract.

  • Project Delays: Disputes regarding Liquidated Damages and who is at fault for missed deadlines.

  • Workmanship Defects: Claims relating to sub-standard construction or failure to meet technical specifications.



Dispute Trends and Figures


Recent data reported in The Straits Times and The Business Times highlight a significant rise in disputes within the landed housing and renovation sector. Specifically, construction disputes now account for approximately 40% of cases handled by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC).


Globally, the Arcadis 2024 Global Construction Disputes Report indicates that while the average value of disputes fluctuates, the complexity of evidence, particularly digital records, is increasing. In Singapore, consumers lost approximately S$1.93 million in prepayments to various industries in 2024, with the home renovation sector being a major contributor, accounting for over S$728,000 in reported losses due to unfinished or defective works.


Home under renovation. A man is painting the wall in the background. A little white dog is looking off to one side in the foreground.

Reported Cases in Singapore Media


Here are some legal cases involving construction disputes reported by local news channels:

· Two commercial interior construction firms fined S$10m for rigging bids over five years – Channel News Asia YouTube Channel, 20 Dec 2024 


An office that has been renovated in browns, nudes and wooden colours.

Practising Due Diligence


Practising due diligence and establishing good habits in documenting everything when you are engaging in construction and renovation activities is always a good start to avoid getting into conflicts in the first place.


Choosing a CASETrust-accredited renovation business can mitigate some of the risks. Documenting and taking work-in-progress photographs and videos onsite is also a good habit to have as this will allow you to have quick access to evidence to support your interests.



The Rise of Digital Communication as Evidence


In today’s digital age, evidence is no longer confined to paper trails and physical documents.

The recent years have seen an increase in the use of text messaging and voice notes as the predominant mode of communication between people, slowly overtaking email, the poster child of the previous decades. This means that we also see a rise in the demand for the transcription and translation of WhatsApp or WeChat voice messages as evidence in legal proceedings.


In addition to lengthier audio recordings taken of, say, Zoom meetings, we are now transcribing a large number of audio clips of varying duration, sometimes, as short as a one second clip of a reply that says “Okay” over voice notes. One case alone can involve anything from fewer than 10 audio files to hundreds of recordings.



The Rojak in Singapore’s Audio Transcription Projects


Singapore is a multi-cultural society, and this is reflected in our speech. It is common to find recordings where the speakers switch between English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and various dialects like Hokkien or Cantonese – a linguistic blend true to our roots.


Furthermore, when individuals are highly emotional, their speech can become incoherent and messy. The role of a transcriber-translator is to act as a neutral party, accurately converting what was said from an audio format onto paper.


Space under renovation. There is a ladder and other materials lying around. A man's legs can be seen standing on another ladder in another room through the doorway.

Understanding the Legality and Illegality of Recordings


A common question regarding such recordings is whether they are illegal in Singapore and their admissibility in the Singapore courts.


To understand when and under what circumstance your audio recording can be admissible in the Singapore courts, you will need to consult with an experienced lawyer on this.



The Indispensable Role of Professional Transcription and Translation


A set of headphones against a bright yellow background.

While it might be tempting to use AI-powered transcription tools or attempt to transcribe the recordings yourself to speed up the process, the stakes in legal disputes are far too high for anything less than professional involvement. The court also requires the translation to be produced by a translation service provider that can certify the transcripts and translations.


A thorough piece of translation is 50 per cent translation and 50 per cent research. Our team understands the technical terminology of the industry and the nuances of Singaporean dialects, ensuring your evidence stands up to scrutiny in court. At Wei.Trans.Create, we specialise in providing high-quality translation and transcription for construction disputes.


 

We hope that you have enjoyed reading about the role of audio transcription and translation in construction dispute cases in Singapore. Stay tuned for our next article, where we will explore the role of audio transcription in property disputes and neighbours’ disputes.


And if you have any questions or audio recordings that require transcription and/or translation, contact us here for a quote. Your files will be treated with confidentiality.


View of a large construction site from above. Workers can be seen working or talking to each other at different locations onsite.

 
 
 

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