prime contract work; prime contractor
Refers to the main contractor in a project hierarchy, or the work undertaken by that contractor, as opposed to subcontractors (下請け).
In this construction project, the prime contractor bears overall responsibility.
As the prime contractor, managing subcontractors is also an important task.
元請け is the primary contractor who takes the direct contract from the client, while 下請け is the subcontractor who receives work passed down from them.
Standard spelling with okurigana.
Abbreviated spelling without okurigana, common in business contexts.
From 元, denoting the principal or direct party in a contractual chain, and 請け, “contracting” or “undertaking.”