All Of Malta’s Contractors And Builders Must Be Registered With The MDA By September As ‘Revolution For The Industry’ Kicks Off
Every single contractor and builder in Malta, whether or not they have a license, must be registered with the Malta Developers’ Association and the Building Regulations Office by September, in the first of many stages to finally rein in the construction sector.
It was also revealed that, eventually, cowboy contractors and builders who fail to follow regulations will be struck off the register and will be unable to operate in the sector.
Four registers will be created; one for contractors, one for contractors who specialise in excavation and demolition work, one for licensed builders, and another for unlicensed builders.
“It is the start of a revolution for the industry,” MDA President Sandro Chetcuti said, “the moment to regulate the industry has come.”
Beyond embarking on a campaign to ensure everyone is registered by September, the cost of registration will be just €50. People will be able to register online or meet with a dedicated team at the MDA’s offices ready to help anyone with questions.
The MDA Registration Form in question
When pressed by Lovin Malta, Chetcuti said he was sure everyone would register by the September cut-off date. Asked what would happen if they don’t register by this date, Chetcuti said these contractors and builders would not be able to acquire a license when they become mandatory during the third phase of reform, rendering them unable to operate in the industry
As it stands, this is a stock-taking exercise with no vetting done upon registration. Vetting, BRO Head Michael Ferris explained, will take place during the second phase, which will see the varied classification of people working in the industry and their specialised skills.
On the issues of licensing, Chetcuti said that the courses had started to become antiquated and should better reflect individual skill sets rather than the whole industry.
“You only need to know how to build a garigor if you work in restoration, this is why varied classification is needed,” he explained.
What do you make of these changes?
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