Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the call to create a ‘pool’ of legal professionals and architects to give their services free of charge on behalf of citizens, to address complaints on construction site abuses, will be issued in the coming week.

Abela spoke at a political event on Sunday, centring his speech on the construction sector and the public inquiry report on the death of 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia published last Wednesday.

He said that citizens have the right to live in their own homes in serenity, without extra inconveniences from a nearby construction site.

Abela said that citizens also need to know that they have a voice, which will reach authorities who will act on their behalf.

The call for a pool of legal professionals and architects to give their services on behalf of citizens is a clear sign of the priority government is giving to the initiatives it wants to implement in the sector, Abela said.

“The construction sector needs newer and higher standards, different than what the industry has now gotten used to, and it needs to continue changing at a faster pace, as there are decades of inaction of regulations which we need to recover,” Abela said, adding that government is capable of doing so, and implementing all reforms needed.

He said that the reforms need to be implemented with a sense of justice, in memory of Sofia, who died in December 2022 in a building collapse, justice with his parents, and with the other victims of the sector.

Abela said that laws will be strengthened where there is lacune, amalgamated where there are contradictions, and strengthening both ancillary services for the sector, as well as enforcement entities.

“The sector itself must participate in these reforms, and all stakeholders must pull the same rope. It is necessary for everyone to be on board, to destroy the mentality and bring change,” Abela said.

If not, the shortcomings the sector has seen over 50 years, cannot be changed as soon as possible, he continued.

“The country deserves higher and different standards, and for people to live in the serenity of their homes. The sector needs new standards so that the worker goes to his work day, without worrying about their health and safety at work,” Abela said.

“I want no mason or worker who has to choose between his livelihood, and risking his safety when there is danger,” Abela said.

He also reminded those amateurs in the sector who do not want seriousness that their place is not in the industry, thereby separating those who want to adhere to higher standards.

Abela said that some the 39 recommendations the inquiry highlighted are the same as the ones in the PL’s 2022 electoral programme. Some are different, yet the principle is one which united them – the need to implement higher and newer standards in the country.

He said he received several opinions following his speech in Parliament last week, describing PN Leader Bernard Grech’s speech as partisan. Abela said that under a PN government, there were many industry deaths where no public inquiry was initiated.

Abela mentioned an incident where nine people died at a worksite whose operation was directly under government’s surveillance and responsibility at the time.

He said that an administrative inquiry was launched behind closed doors, where then, the PN ended up taking the three experts involved to court.

Another incident Abela mentioned, where there was no public inquiry launched, was a case in 2004 where a Maltese woman was giving Maltese language lessons to a young Russian woman. Both died as the building collapsed on them due to a nearby development.

“Victims are not numbers, and this is not the time for partisan politics. My obligation today is on the positive and effective changes we will bring,” Abela said.

He said that government wants to ensure the peace-of-mind of the market and for the citizens and their rights.

Abela said that the inquiry was clear and balanced, when it pointed out that incidents cannot be eliminated completely, but prevention must be strengthened.

Aside from the call for a pool of professionals assisting on citizens’ behalf, government will also take action to strengthen surveillance on construction sites, strengthen enforcement, coordinate fragmented entities for more synergy, have more trained officials, and for the citizen to feel that they have direct access to responsible authorities for surveillance and enforcement.

“The focus must be on the step before enforcement, which is distinguishing between who is serious and who is not, and separate them. Strong enforcement includes the ceasing of their operations in the industry,” Abela said.

He mentioned a fatal construction incident in 2004, where a Court, in a criminal case, made 10 recommendations on how the sector can be strengthened.

Abela said the court identified a crucial change, that of the certification and licensing of contractors, which the PL government implemented a few months ago.

He said that while there are professionals in the industry who adhere to the highest standards, beyond what the inquiry recommends, the sector cannot depend on the good will of a number of contractors.

Given that many workers in the sector are foreign workers, Abela said that the licensing of temping agencies is being implemented so that abuse is “killed” as discipline and seriousness is necessary.

Abela reiterated that by summer of this year, new laws regulating the health and safety at a workplace will be implemented.

“We will reach higher standards as we know where we want to go and recognized where we could have done better. We are working on implementing projects to move forward, and bring change together,” Abela concluded.

The event was also addressed by PL candidate for the upcoming MEP elections Claudette Abela Baldacchino.