When politicians speak of projects, people tend to look at the overall picture and see only the end result – an embellished promenade, a new school, an extended wing of a hospital, a reconstructed road and a rebuilt square.
But, before that happens and the finished work can be admired, the “project” in itself is a result of planning procedures and, on the whole, the actual physical work that is carried out on site.
Few seem to realise that the number of projects that politicians keep on mentioning – and in particular from the government side as it seeks to show tangible proof of its work – are offering employment opportunities, not only to government workers, but to employees of private companies that are contracted for the job.
Over the past weeks, The Malta Independent on Sunday has given a list of projects that the government intends to embark upon in 2010, as well as a list of minor but equally important projects that the Resources Ministry has completed or is working on.
This newspaper has now carried out an exercise to find out how many people are employed on different projects that have taken or are taking place around Malta – and the results are quite impressive.
For example, the construction of a new school involves the employment of 147 people. It happened for the building of the schools at Handaq, Verdala and Pembroke, and it is happening now with the schools that are being built in Gozo and Mosta.
If the figures are broken down, one finds that there are 15 construction workers, 20 for mechanical and electrical services, five carpenters, 20 tile-layers, 15 workers for plastering and painting, another 15 for road works and landscaping, four for IT services, 10 cleaners, four blacksmiths, 10 for aluminium works, six on sport facilities, five for security services, two for lift services, two for the provision of vertical blinds, four for furniture, 10 architects and assistants and another 10 workers for other services – for a total of 147.
The three schools that have been completed have also provided employment for over 300 people – this includes school administrators, teachers and minor staff.
The new block at St Vincent de Paul Hospital, dedicated to Pope John Paul II, where 144 elderly people are being taken care of, has provided work for 138 people.
These include 30 construction workers, 30 plasterers, painters and tile-layers, 20 for aluminium works, eight for vinyl works, 15 carpenters, five on stainless steel items, 10 tailors (for curtains) and 10 blacksmiths. And, once the block is completed, there will be 48 carers, 22 nurses, eight cleaners, three nursing officers and four deputy nursing officers.
When it comes to road-works, the rebuilding of the Marsascala by-pass, a three-kilometre stretch, is employing 50 people every day. The project will cost EUR9.5million.
Other roads under the TEN-T project – the upgrading of Council of Europe Avenue and Garibaldi Avenue in Luqa, the new junction at 13 December Road and the upgrading of the sea passenger terminal access road between Floriana and Marsa, the reconstruction and widening of Marfa Road, Mellieha and the reconstruction and upgrading of the road from Ghajnsielem to Victoria – are also employing 50 workers each.
The resurfacing and rebuilding of residential roads each employs eight workers for each road for an average of three weeks.
The adventure park being built at Ta’ Qali has given work to 144 people, of whom 122 are government workers.
Eighty-five of these workers are from the Parks, Afforestation and Countryside Restoration section, 37 from the Works Department, four for playground facilities, six for printed concrete, two for water features, four for trenching works, two for tarmac works and four for rope courses.
The St George Square project involved the employment of 73 workers – 42 from private companies and 31 government workers.
When it comes to waste, there are 65 working on the Maghtab rehabilitation – 60 of whom to retrieve toxic gases; 100 at bulky refuse stations; 54 for the modernisation of the Sant’Antnin plant; 60 to administer civic amenity and bring-in sites and waste separation; 20 for landfills management and 70 for the administration of Sant’Antnin.
Nineteen workers are employed on the restoration of the Mdina bastions and another 160 workers for the mapping of the bastions and restoration work in Valletta and Vittoriosa.
scalleja@independent.com.mt
