ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT ENSURING TRANSPARENCY IN SUBCONTRACTOR SELECTION

The construction industry faces persistent ethical challenges in procurement, including issues like favoritism, bribery, and hidden agreements, which compromise fairness, inflate costs, and erode trust. This article emphasizes the crucial importance of transparency in subcontractor selection, a key issue that needs urgent attention. It also highlights modern tools and methodologies that can address these challenges. E-tendering platforms, blockchain, and AI- powered decision-making systems provide structured and impartial frameworks for evaluating bids, ensuring accountability and fairness. By leveraging these innovative practices and overcoming barriers like resistance to change and confidentiality concerns, the construction sector can move toward a more ethical and efficient procurement system. The article also envisions a future where emerging technologies, such as smart contracts and IoT integration, create an equitable and transparent procurement ecosystem. Keywords— Construction Procurement, Ethical Challenges, Transparency, Subcontractor Selection, Blockchain Technology, AI in Construction, E-Tendering Platforms, Smart Contracts, Sustainability, Accountability in Procurement.