Work on Malta's first Building Codes is nearing completion, with public consultation on the new rules expected to take place in the coming months, Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Minister Jonathan Attard has said.
Attard made the announcement during a visit to an exhibition organised by SACES, the student organisation representing Architecture students within the Faculty for the Built Environment.
He said the Building Codes represented an important development for the construction sector and would have a significant impact on how the sector operates in the future.
"The initial work related to the first Building Codes is now being concluded," Attard said, adding that the government was continuing its dialogue with the Chamber of Architects and other stakeholders.
The minister encouraged both professionals and students to take part in upcoming public consultations on reforms affecting the sector, arguing that their input would help shape how the industry operates in the coming years.
Attard also outlined a number of reforms introduced in recent years aimed at raising standards across Malta's construction sector.
These include new health and safety regulations for construction sites, stronger enforcement measures and an agreement between the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) on joint inspections.
The minister also highlighted the licensing of builders and contractors and ongoing work to ensure that every worker in the construction sector will have a Skills Card in the coming months.
He also referred to commitments made during the government's first 100 days, including reform of the Planning Appeals system and the launch of a new financial assistance service for people affected by construction.
Attard said students should have a role in discussions on the sector's future alongside established professionals.
"I encourage not only professionals in the sector, but also students, to participate in the public consultations that will be held on further reforms in the sector. This is because these reforms will determine how the sector will operate in the period ahead," he said.
The exhibition was organised by SACES and is being hosted at the BCA's offices at Spencer Hill, The Exchange, Marsa.
BCA Chief Executive Officer Perit Roderick Bonnici said the authority remained committed to supporting students both in their studies and through initiatives such as the annual exhibition.
SACES President Rui Zammit thanked the students involved in the exhibition for their work, while Faculty for the Built Environment Dean Prof. Marc Bonello praised students for organising the exhibition for another year.
The exhibition features work produced by students across three courses: the Diploma in Design Foundation Studies, the BSc in Built Environment Studies, and the Masters of Engineering and Masters in Architecture.
Around 100 Architecture students attended the opening of the exhibition alongside their parents and other family members.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until Friday, 16 October, at the BCA building in Marsa. Further information is available through SACES' official social media pages and its website.