One of the most important sectors of our economy, the construction industry, is going through some very interesting times.
The public sector is carryingout large infrastructural pro-jects ranging from the Kappara Junction and the construction of new schools to the extension of State hospitals.
The private sector is also investing heavily in various projects, including the new Delimara power station, the high-end residential developments such as Portomaso, Tigne Point and Pender Gardens, and the various new hotels and hotel extensions as a result of a booming tourism industry.
To these projects one needs to add various multimillion-euro projects that are at planning stage and which include projects in the St. Julian’s-Paceville area, Sliema, Mrieħel and Qawra.
Can our present building industry cater for all these projects, most of them being of a very complex nature, in particular due to the volume and height of some of the proposed structures?
At the moment the answer to this question is probably no. The current building industry workforce has not got a sufficient number of workers with the experience and expertise to carry out these projects, in particular if there are more than two being constructed at any one time.
The obvious short-term solution to this problem would be to award these works to foreign contractors who have the necessary resources, skills and expertise, as is already happening.
However, in my opinion, the local construction industry needs to look beyond the short term. The industry needs to identify the skill gaps and lobby the authorities to start addressing these gaps, to ensure we have the workers who possess the skills to be able to carry out such projects.
The current building industry workforce does not have a sufficient number of workers with the experience and expertise to carry out these projects
The Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC) is working on such an initiative. It has carried out surveys and analysed the situation to understand the reasons why we have finished up in this situation.
The problem starts from a very early age. Few youngsters decide to take up a building trade as a career. The reasons for this are various, but the most important ones are the perception of the industry as being one which requires hard work in all types of weather conditions and that workers in this industry are not adequately compensated for their work.
To address these issues, the BICC has launched the skill card system. Workers within the industry are encouraged to apply to have their skills certified at a specific level, while they are also expected to attend a health and safety course. On the presentation of their certificate of competence and their attendance at the health and safety course, the worker receives a skill card.
The skill card is colour coded depending on the level of competence of the worker.
A silver skill card would specify a skilled tradesman and a blue card would mean a worker with little or no experience.
To date, workers can only be identified by the skill they claim to possess. Now such skills are being certified and at different levels. Obviously, a worker who has a skill card signifying more experience would expect better compensation for his work.
By means of the skill card scheme the BICC is attempting to create a clear career path for workers in each trade such that they can advance within the trade and be able to ask for a better return for their work.
The skill card scheme has also identified all the skills which are required to service our construction industry. The BICC has identified the skill gaps and together with the educational institutions will provide the training for such skills leading to the acquisition of the skill card.
The skill card scheme will therefore address the gaps within the construction sector, ensuring we have workers with the necessary skills to implement our projects.
This initiative will also map out a clear career path for all those young persons who would like to participate within this industry by ensuring better compensation for those who improve their skills.
Finally, this initiative will lead to a culture change within the industry, ensuring sustainable progress such that the industry will be able to meet the challenges of the future.
Charles Buhagiar is executive chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council.