Government told to close down building trade
THE PRESSURE on the government to stop construction companies from working during the state of emergency has increased this week.
Trade unions, official associations of architects and civil engineers, and several regional governments have stated that building is not a basic need and non-essential projects should be halted.
They have highlighted that construction workers are spreading the virus and called on the government to issue a short-term ban. According to the CCOO trade union, only urgent repair work in homes such as repairing leaks should be allowed – or when a building is at risk of collapse.
Unions noted that the basic health and safety of workers cannot be guaranteed.
The image of bricklayers and other building professionals working as usual and ignoring the safety measures has shocked residents who are forced to stay at home and traders who were forced to close down their businesses to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to the national association of builders (APC España), a total of 16,300 new properties are under construction in the Valencia region and 8,700 of them are in Alicante province.
In Orihuela Costa alone 155 new properties have been handed building licences in the last two weeks by the council board.
Cambiemos Orihuela councillor Carlos Bernabé told Costa Blanca News that the council has different legal tools to stop the building.
Sr Bernabé admitted that the ban can only be ordered by the national government, but highlighted that the council is entitled to stop issuing new building licences, stop the building works of public facilities and stop residential building works which do not yet have licences.
“In Orihuela Costa, it is common practice among construction companies to start building works when they apply for a building licence and not when the licence is actually issued,” he said.
“The council is entitled to stop all these works.”
He added that protection of workers ‘is not one of the features of the building sector’ and therefore it is very important that companies are forced to keep their employees at home.
Jávea restrictions
Working hours on construction sites and general building work has been reduced by new restrictions in Jávea aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
The town hall brought new measures into force on Tuesday morning and tradesmen and workmen were warned they faced fines and a shutdown if they failed to comply with the new rule – or any of the compulsory health measures already in force in the coronavirus emergency.
The order relates to building sites and associated work in the sector, including plumbing, electrical work, window installation and carpentry carried out in occupied properties – which is only authorised for urgent repairs and emergency work.
In addition, the maintenance of gardens and swimming pools should only be for tasks necessary to maintain health and hygiene.
The new order – agreed by councillors via a video conference call – restricts work to between 08.00 and 15.00 and it is prohibited to work outside these times.
The aim is to avoid double shifts and assist the control work carried out by the local police and Guardia Civil in the fight against the virus.