VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 2014
Contents From the Ground Up
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Cast in Stone?
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The Construction Industry: Resource Efficiency Opportunities in the Building Sector 05
Brick by brick Building work is one of the most ancient activities of mankind. Malta’s oldest ‘buildings’, such as the temples at Ħagar Qim, date back to pre-Stonehenge days. Huge blocks, cut from elswhere, transported on site, and erected with such precision that the sun’s rays reach its main altar only at the solstice, make us stand in awe at the industriousness and the ingenuity of our ancestors. Our penchant for building is obvious: our magnificent churches, awesome fortifications, as well as our palaces, cities and houses, all bear witness to the skill and creativity of the Maltese worker. VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
Today, the traditional is becoming rarer, and new ways of building are becoming the norm. This means that over the years, we are steadily losing out on skills that were once common. It would be tragic if this artisanship is lost. Our saving grace is restoration and conservation, as skilled workers in this sector are still in demand. On the other hand, building has become more industrial, and more emphasis is being placed on efficiency. Looking at the health and safety statistics, it becomes easy to point out that the construction
The construction industry scenario
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Construction at European Level
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Video: Construction
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EDITOR’S NOTE JOSEF VELLA
industry is the sector which has a significant rate of injury at work, with some fatal cases as well. Although the sector is inherently a dangerous activity, we need to do away with the old adage of ‘anything goes’. With the right precautions and a culture of safety, accidents can be reduced drastically. Admittedely, much has been done. But we are far from being near our optimum levels when it comes to health and safety. People who work in the health and safety business can attest to the fact that they are often met with a large dose of skepticism, and are normally 1
EDITORIAL
not very welcome on some building are not exploited, and that their sites. welfare is given its due priority. There is a shortage of local human Like all other sectors, the building resources. Foreign workers are industry is experiencing changes. being utilised, and sometimes are We need to make sure that these being paid far less than a fair wage, changes are made for the better, all in the name of competition. This and could contribute to making is having a downward pressure on work pay: that workers in this sector the conditions and income levels of
a number of workers in the industry who demand fair wages. We need to step up our efforts so that workers, local or foreign, are given what is fair and respectful. Only this way can the building industry in Malta be sustainable, skills developed, and working conditions safe. Brick by brick. PICTURE STORY
From the Ground Up The construction industry has evolved over the years; from a sector that was mainly hands, hard work and artisanship, today the sector is moving towards technology, efficiency and fast-track building. We need to take stock of the changes affecting workers in this sector, however. Skilled workers are still important, especially in the restoration and conservation industry. Less skilled workers will mean less opportunity to work on our heritage projects. On the other hand, we need to make sure that the quest for efficiency does not impinge upon workers’ pay, health and safety. It takes vision and a will to tackle the issues at hand by all stakeholders, that can really make a difference. VOICE OF THE
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INTERVIEW - MR ROBERT LIA
CAST IN STONE? INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT LIA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RGI LTD. AND MALTA TILES
VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
What makes a good construction worker? Well, for starters, a good dose of common sense is very good to have. This will serve the builder in good stead, as work needs to be carefully planned to avoid unnecessary delays and mistakes that could be costly, both in financial as well as in safety terms. Moreover, the builder needs to be able to technically read a building plan, and needs to be responsible to his co-workers. As we all know, construction may be dangerous, and all workers on a building site need to be sensitive to each others’ needs. There are basically two types of construction: one that is managed by a large, turnkey contractor, where there is a hierarchy of people working on a particular site, as well as a small contractor scenario, where the builder is also the foreman.
Research suggests that a significant amount of workplace accidents and injuries occur within this industry. What contributes to this? Although a lack of health and safety culture plays a part, it is not the only culprit. I believe that a major culprit is pricing levels. It is a fact that competition is fierce, and many opt to go for the lowest price option. This often tempts operators in this industry to offer ridiculously low prices, and start to cut corners to make it all work out. Some lower prices are offered at the expense of proper safety measures. These things cost money, and whoever decides to invest in this area might be rendered uncompetitive when compared with people who flout health and safety regulations. 3
INTERVIEW - MR ROBERT LIA
Some have the perception that the building quality has decreased over the years. What are the contributors to such a perception? There are different types of work quality. There are workers and clients who just consider price; then there are others who value quality and are willing to pay for it. Quality also depends on the level of on-site supervision, an organisation’s quality culture, work pressures and other variables. Pressure on quality levels may come from both contractor as well as from the client. It is a known fact that a lot of local workers are deserting this work. Why is this so? I believe that many workers are feeling that the industry is becoming devoid of motivational content. This is because most buildings are being constructed
in dull boxes, using bricks and a huge dose of urgency for increased turnover. On the other hand, construction as a learned trade is disappearing. People who have traditional manual skills are decreasing steadily. In fact, these people are becoming scarce by the day. Workers on stone sculpture, stone arches, stone staircases for example, are becoming a dying breed. Unfortunately today, even a refurbished farmhouse may sport a concrete staircase which is just clad in stone, rather than having a real stone staircase. This is one of the reasons why this trade is on the decline. There is also another aspect. Although the price of property and materials has increased, the price charged by builders has remained relatively constant for the past twenty years. This is driving down builders’ monthly
income. As builders are paid by piece rates, workers have to work faster to get paid the same prices; hence the pressures on time and safety. Competition and the drive for lower costs are contributing to this state of affairs; builders are, in reality, price takers. Locals are moving away from this work. For the same wages or a bit less, they can get a job that is less physically demanding and safer. The industry inevitably has to resort to employing foreign workers. This, in turn, has served to drive prices further down. It’s a downward spiral. What can be done to revive the trade? We need to concentrate on young people. We need to teach them not just the theoretical side, but also the practical aspects; learning to be a ‘jack of all trades, master of all’ type of worker.
We need to teach [young people] not just the theoretical side, but also the practical aspects; learning to be a ‘jack of all trades, master of all’ type of worker VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
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MEUSAC
The Construction Industry: Resource Efficiency Opportunities in the Building Sector The construction and the use of buildings in the European Union (EU) account for almost half of all the extracted building materials and energy consumption, and a third of the water consumption, and also produce about 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This industry also generates about a third of all waste and is associated with various environmental pressures which arise at different stages of a building’s lifecycle, such as manufacturing, construction, utilisation, renovation and also management of building waste. In order to encourage resource efficiency, designers, manufacturers, contractors and authorities need useable and reliable information on which to base their decision-making. A Communication issued by the European Commission this year on July 1, aims to promote the efficient use of resources consumed by commercial public and residential buildings, be they new or renovated, so as to reduce the overall environmental impacts. The Communication on the resource efficiency
opportunities in the building sector builds upon the Europe 2020 Strategy adopted in 2010 and the Resource Efficiency Roadmap, adopted in 2011. Throughout this Communication, the Commission aims at addressing the information deficit by proposing a set of clearly measurable and defined indicators for the assessment of the environmental performance of buildings; therefore enabling and encouraging professionals and decision makers to apply the concept of resource efficiency. This would be achieved by the following specific objectives: • Raise awareness of and demand for better environmental performing buildings, among private consumers, developers and public purchasers; • Improve knowledge and information regarding resource use and related environmental impacts in relation to buildings in order to support decision making among the key players in the industry; • Remove the barriers created by different sets of requirements
concerning the environmental performance of buildings; • Improve material efficiency, including the prevention and management of construction and demolition waste; • Support more intensive use of buildings in order to reduce the need for further built environment (e.g., use empty buildings instead of building new ones, use buildings for more than one purpose when suitable, build flexible buildings to be adapted to new functions or changing needs). While the interest in improving resource efficiency in the construction sector is growing, both at the national and also at EU level, the lack of common objectives, indicators and data could have various repercussions, particularly in the field of planning, designing, constructing and manufacturing. The Commission invited stakeholders, particularly the public authorities, social partners and investors, in order to discuss the objectives. The result of this public consultation on sustainable buildings can be found here.
MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE
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MCESD
The construction industry scenario The construction industry encompasses within it a set of professions including engineers, builders and architects. The industry plays a crucial role for economic development. The geographic reality of our islands demonstrates the undeniable need to ensure that unspoilt land is not continuously developed. Ideally, investment of the construction industry is to be channelled towards the regeneration of unoccupied dwellings and not the development of untouched land. The latest Census indicates that there are over 70,000 unoccupied dwellings throughout the islands. This is a worrying number since there is huge economic potential in these dwellings which is not being utilised. This industry also has a great role to play when it comes to occupational health and safety.
Professionalism in this regard is key. All individuals working in this industry are exposed to various hazards and it is imperative that both employers and employees adhere to the necessary regulations as laid out by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority in Malta. In recent years there has been a decline in accidents related to the industry and this is a positive indicator that regulations are being respected. The implementation of a sustainable construction industry has definitely become a priority namely in the global climate change scenario. Technology has developed in such a way so that buildings are built in a more environmentally friendly manner. Insulation and renewable energy usage are only a couple of examples as to how a greener and a more sustainable
construction can be achieved. Notwithstanding the fact that such technologies require even more investment, further initiatives need to be taken by this industry so as to benefit from sustainable construction. With the help of Government and EU funding this may be more attainable. The construction industry can indirectly also help address our lack of physical energy resources. Improving buildings’ energy performance have positive consequences both in economic as well as in environmental terms. In Malta, a clear example would be the PV panels incentive which has proven to be successful. The amount of solar energy being produced through the panels will contribute to the energy mix used to distribute power throughout our islands.
MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
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GWU BUDGET 2015 CIA
Construction at European Level
The European Commission has launched the following programmes to help the sector thrive: • CRP: Providing a common technical language • CrIP: Construction search engine • EU action plan for low-energy buildings • Eurocodes ensure Single Market More information available here: http://goo.gl/1CQwUM
CrIP: The European Construction Information Platform The European Construction Information Platform wants to support and increase the capability of the whole Construction sector to adapt to new challenges. Explore Construction aims not only to support the European Construction sector on accessing to all relevant information at European and National level, but also to become a real bidirectional channel open to all the players in the construction industry, including all public institutions both at EU level and Member State/ Local level. This web portal wants to become a “one-stop information point” to create and access relevant information coming from the EC, and which could service any external contact relating to the construction sector. Please access to the portal here: http://goo.gl/RsGxsi EC Survey on Materials for Sustainable Construction The European Commission is making a survey to develop a research and innovation roadmap which will aim at providing answers to the challenging question: “Which Materials for Sustainable Construction?” The main aims of this survey are to identify and prioritise research and innovation needs for new advanced materials meeting the challenges and the new legislations for sustainable and competitive construction, and to propose solutions to overcome barriers to exploitation and deployment of research results for materials in the construction industry. As an expert in the field, you are invited to participate in this survey, which can be found at: http://goo.gl/52Taqm The deadline to participate has been postponed from 7th September 2014 until 30th September 2014
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Construction: Single market made easy for companies Construction companies wishing to expand their business to another EU Member State need to know the challenges they might face. Employment, environmental and safety requirements may differ, quite like those for construction materials and products. The European Commission has launched several initiatives to help enterprises overcome these difficulties, equipping construction companies with the information they need to be successful in other EU countries.
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SURVEY
NEWS
There are various initiatives that have been launched by the European Commission to help the construction sector thrive. These initiatives include co-operation, information platforms, as well as sustainability issues. The information was compiled by the Brussels office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori.
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