Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537082
MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 JULY 2025 NEWS Minister defends construction sector reform but says results will take time to show Justice Minister says years of construction sector reforms had been lost before government stepped in • Opposition construction spokesperson Stanley Zammit says PN wants to restructure Planning Authority MINISTER Jonathan Attard praised reforms in the con- struction sector, but warned results will take time to show. He conceded the process was accelerated after Jean Paul So- fia case, but insisted "years had been lost in reforms". He was interviewed on Xtra on TVM hosted by Saviour Balzan, a couple of weeks af- ter the collapse of a building in Paceville. He was part of a pan- el which also included Opposi- tion construction spokesperson Stanley Zammit, Andre Callus from Moviment Graffitti and Kamra tal-Periti President An- dre Pizzuto. Speaking on reforms intro- duced after the Sofia magis- terial inquiry, Pizzuto said a lot remains to be done, stating issues must be resolved also at planning stage. Opposition spokesperson for construction and planning Stanley Zammit criticised the government's construction sector reforms, saying they are "slow and not holistic". Zam- mit used the example of the contractors' license measure, which had been in the works for over a decade, but did not classify contractors. He pointed out that even for- mer Planning Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi had recog- nised the need for classification amongst contractors. The PN spokesperson pointed out the benefits of classifica- tion, especially for consumers to know which contractor fits their needs, as well as from a legal perspective. He also criticised the separa- tion of certain entities such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Occupa- tional Health and Safety Au- thority (OHSA). The minister countered this argument by saying the enti- ties are separate for decentral- isation of power, and that the same entities coordinate to- gether in their work. Moviment Graffitti activist Andre Callus called for a more active role by the state in devel- opment, saying a lot remains to be done in sectoral reforms. Whereas the minister said he believed such reforms take time, Callus said there have been instances where these changes occur quickly, espe- cially when a "developer has personal interests involved." Callus said the issue rooted in 2014 when a number of con- struction policies were changed such as the rural policy and ho- tel heights policy were amend- ed, paving the way for a lot of development to take place without regulation. Recognising the economic benefits of such legal amend- ments, Callus said the coun- try needs a booming economy which does not come at the cost of uncontrolled develop- ment. The activist called for an economic model which does let those in power off the hook. Attard on the other hand in- sisted the Maltese economy does not rely solely on con- struction, albeit the multiplier effects it has. He pointed to- wards the tourism as one of the sectors. Stanley Zammit on the other hand said the Nationalist Party will continue to make proposals and measures for the construc- tion industry. Among these proposals Zammit said will be the PN's plan to restructure the Planning Authority, including its "philosophy, structure and priorities." ILENIA DEBONO idebono@mediatoday.com.mt Opposition construction spokesperson Stanley Zammit, Andre Callus from Moviment Graffitti and Kamra tal-Periti President Andre Pizzuto and Minister Jonathan Attard interviewed on Xtra Mandatory skills pass for Maltese, EU nationals in tourism sector postponed by one year GOVERNMENT has postponed the rollout of the mandatory skills pass for Maltese and EU nationals working in the tourism sector by one year. The requirement remains in place for third-country nationals. In a statement, the Tourism Ministry said that the decision to delay the next phase for Maltese and EU citizens comes in alignment with the newly announced Labour Migration Policy and will be for- malised through Legal Notice 113 of 2025. The pass will be made mandatory for Maltese and EU nationals by January 2027. The ministry said that the change will pave the way for expanding the skills pass beyond tourism and hospitality into other industries. To date, over 13,000 workers have ob- tained the skills pass since its inception in May 2024, which is overseen by the Insti- tute of Tourism Studies (ITS). "Over the course of the coming year, the government will continue to engage with all relevant partners and stakeholders to ensure that the goals of this initiative are met, while continuing to support the industry's path towards a higher quality tourism offering," the ministry said. The ministry stressed its commitment to the sustainable growth of the tourism sector and the development of a resilient, well-trained labor market. The Tourism Ministry said that the decision to delay the next phase for Maltese and EU citizens comes in alignment with the newly announced Labour Migration Policy