FOI makes contractors' case for permit conditions of works in public areas

The Malta Federation of Industry has approached the Ministry for Justice and Local Government about high permit fees which local councils are charging to contractors carrying out work in public areas.

The difference in the level of fees came about after the transfer of responsibilities from the Police to local councils. But there is some good news to contractors after the FOI's representations on their behalf.

Government has undertaken to amend the existing regulations and drastically reduce the rates charged.

The FOI has also taken up the case of private contractors working for the Roads and Drainage departments and other public utilities (Water Services and Enemalta), who have recently been threatened by Maltacom with high supervision charges that would substantially raise the cost of excavation and re-instatement works carried out in public roads.

The Roads Department has been asked to intervene and to bring the situation under control. Maltacom have complained and proposed drastic measures about repeated damages caused to their expensive cable installation underground by excavation contractors carrying out works on behalf of various other corporations.

The FOI has called for a better managed execution of road works without the need to add unnecessary overhead costs that finally hit the taxpayer's pocket.

Malta is still suffering from the unprofessional planning of services running underground that was the order of the day until recent welcome decisions by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Consequences of bad planning in the past cannot now be turned against contractors who are habitually accused of bad workmanship.

The Federation also reminds Government at this stage about recommendations to classify contractors in the construction industry and in road works. These FOI representations of many years standing have not been implemented and the standard of public works is suffering as a result.