“The need for a complete and holistic reform of the Building and Construction Industry has never been greater”, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry said in a statement on Friday.
“Fatalities cannot continue to be seen as collateral damage of a successful industry that remains in dire need of discipline”, the Chamber said.
The statement was published on Friday in reaction to the death of a construction worker in yet another accident in a construction site on Thursday.
The Chamber said that this was the fourth construction-related fatality this year.
“The country cannot accept these fatalities as collateral damage of a successful industry”, they said.
They said that actions taken since the number of serious building collapses in 2019 have not delivered any value.
“The need for a complete and holistic reform of the Building and Construction Industry has never been greater”, the Chamber said.
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“The Malta Chamber has been consistent in its calls for reform, regulation, discipline, and tangible actions. Every day of inaction is another additional day of risk for the industry”, they added.
The Chamber noted that they had proposed that the government take immediate corrective action and impose the agreed-upon sanctions in the event of malpractice or abuse of the new construction regulations.
By doing so, they would strongly show that the reforms have drawn an unwavering line across the previous laissez-faire approach to construction, they said.
The Chamber had also proposed that the industry be regulated by the state, with stringent criteria established for the provision of operating licences to constructors so that the construction industry makes the related reforms and investment to reach the standards present in other EU member states.
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They said that they had also proposed that the new Building and Construction Authority be equipped with the appropriate resources and tools, and a strong enforcement function that would allowed it to operate without fear or favour; and that trust and confidence would be re-established within the Planning Authority and the Environment and Resources Authority, by both entities having their enforcement functions strengthened, while a robust spatial planning capacity would be established within the Planning Authority.
“It is more than clear that this latest useless loss of life, is the result of the failure of a poor regulatory system, as all that the current laws, regulations, and systems in place are falling short from ascertaining the safety of workers, residents, third-party properties and the peace of mind of our people”, the Chamber said.
The Chamber demanded action, based on the above proposals, in earnest.