PN did not participate in consultation exercise on licensing of contractors law – Planning Minister
The Nationalist Party has not participated in the public consultation exercise which will lead to a law on the licensing of construction contractors, Planning Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said.
In his speech in parliament on Monday, presenting the second reading of the law on the licensing of contractors, Zrinzo Azzopardi condemned the PN, who, he said, was absent for yet another government reform.
Zrinzo Azzopardi began by saying that the law which is to come into effect follows a wide consultation exercise which saw the participation of various individuals and organisations in the construction sector. These have submitted suggestions and recommendations on how the law can be amended to address everyone involved.
He said that aside from the consultation portal online, three inperson meetings were organised in Malta, and one in Gozo, where anyone had the opportunity to attend.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the attendance to these meetings was high, reaching up to 100 persons, deeming it a vote of confidence in the government’s process of consultation, which closed last Friday, 21 April.
He said that following consultation, there will be a process of evaluation on the suggestions made, and a law can be devised.
“The laws we have now give us clear obligations, but we need to evolve and introduce the licensing of contractors which also regulate excavations and demolitions,” he said, adding that these sectors need attention.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that quality in the sector needs to be improved, along with the seriousness in which work is done and enforced.
He said that the consumer aspect of the law needs to be discussed, as it is the consumer who would be investing their money on the building. The need for the sector to evolve so that it offers more sustainable and green buildings is also important, he said.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that government will also create a structure within the Building and Construction Authority to efficiently evaluate licensing applications, to control exactly who meets the requirements established, which will regulate the sector.
The structure will assure serious scrutiny of the application process, which will be done in a reasonable amount of time, he continued.
The BCA will be responsible for handling the applications from contractors, with an amendment to be made to the law so that regulations are no longer under the police’s remit.
He said that if shortcomings are observed, the person must face sanctions as a consequence, such as the suspension of their licence, meaning they can no longer operate. This is how quality and seriousness are ensured, Zrinzo Azzopardi said.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the regulations on licensing apply to Maltese workers, workers from EU member states, as well as third country nationals.
“There will be an entire realignment of this sector,” he said, adding that there will be a mechanism in place for individuals who have never applied within the sector to do so according to the requirements.
He also said that the person applying for licensing needs to have certain experience and training in the sector.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that a consultative council on buildings and construction will be set up within the BCA to ensure more participation and evaluations.
He said that the Law Faculty at the University of Malta will also participate in the process of identifying what else needs to be strengthened in the sector.
Zrinzo Azzopardi pledged that there will be more enforcement, and tools for enforcement for contractors.
He spoke about quality of work, which starts from project plans, and also includes implementation and the way the building will function.
He also appealed for the Jean Paul Sofia magisterial inquiry to be finalised as soon as possible, so that whoever needs to answer for any wrong committed is brought to justice.