The legal framework which will lead to the licensing of contractors is completed

The Minister for Public Works and Planning Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi has announced that the legal framework for the Contractors Licensing system has been completed. The Legal Notice will now be sent for the scrutiny of the European Commission so that applications can then be opened for contractors in the fields of demolition, excavation and construction.

During the news conference, Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi recalled how on March 13, a public consultation process was launched on a draft Legal Notice. He stated that this consultation process had a very strong response, with a large number of submissions and proposals and that it created a wide discussion in the country.

Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi explained how after the evaluation of these submissions and proposals “certain changes are being introduced to the original draft of the Legal Notice with the aim that this will lead to the change that is necessary to have more responsibility, clarity and seriousness in this sector and above all higher quality”.

Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi emphasized that one of the biggest changes that the contractors’ license will achieve, in the fields of building, demolition and excavation, is that it will give a clear definition of who is responsible for the work being done. The Building and Construction Authority will have a list of licenced people who can do this work.

Regarding the contractors’ insurance, the Minister said that more discussions are needed before introducing this obligation on the contractors. “As a Government we are committed to continue this process so that in the shortest possible time we will see how to find a fair formula that can be used by the insurance industry in our country to ensure that this obligation is introduced on everyone who hires these sectors”.

Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi said that since there was a very strong contribution in the public consultation, particularly from small contractors, the need was felt for the Building and Construction Authority to immediately start a number of information meetings to clearly explain to contractors in the different sectors how these licenses will operate.

In addition, he stressed the need to have contact and continuous dialogue between the contractors and the Authority through regular information meetings. In this way there will be better communication between the Authority and the licensed contractors, Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi concluded.

Mr. Jesmond Muscat, the Chief Executive Officer of the Building and Construction Authority stressed that the main goals of the licensing of contractors remained the same, that is to define the criteria for a person or entity to carry out the work of a contractor in the construction sector and strengthen the enforcement of construction rules. At the same time, it will be ensured that the construction standards are of a higher quality and the work is done in a more professional way.