Permits, Warrants, And Deaths: What To Expect From The Shocking New PILN Report
Malta’s construction industry is the deadliest sector on the island, with an estimated 90% of all work-related fatalities coming from these sites.
The industry has reared its ugly head once again in a fresh study by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation as part of the Public Interest Litigation Network (PILN), casting an alarming light on the tragedies that plague it.
The upcoming key findings break down several leads about the tragedies revealed in the report.
Lovin Malta will delve into the escalating number of approved permits, especially since 2017, which saw a doubling of permissions compared to the 2010 to 2015 period. The findings also highlight the troubling incidents of wall collapses between 2015 and 2022, with fatalities reported in a significant proportion of these incidents.
The report uncovers the grim reality of worker deaths on construction sites. Between 2010 and 2022, dozens of workers lost their lives while on site, with the frequency of deaths climbing throughout the period.
Out of these cases, a staggering number remain unresolved, pointing to systemic issues within the justice system. The upcoming articles will dive into these case details and the concerning average fine given by the Criminal Court for construction worker fatalities.
Importantly, the upcoming key findings draw attention to the hidden issue of workers in the industry, whose injuries and even deaths often go unreported.
As the construction industry continues to boom, and planning permits increase, the report highlights the critical need for industry reform, tighter regulations, and stronger oversight.
It focuses on different authority bodies involved in the construction site such as, periti (warranted architects) and their responsibilities – and how many warrants have been revoked over the past 23 years in relation to construction deaths.
The PILN report aims to unmask the complexity of the construction industry, from developers to architects, contractors to site managers, and workers, highlighting the broad range of roles involved in the creation of Malta’s changing skyline.
While these key findings provide a sad overview of the situation, the full report is expected to offer comprehensive details that will instigate much-needed dialogue and change.
Lovin Malta will be releasing breakdowns of these new findings over the coming days.
Is it high time something is done to address Malta’s construction industry lethality?