Construction industry skills card white paper and public consultation launched

The government has launched a white paper about the introduction of skill cards in the construction industry, social affairs minister Helena Dalli and employment minister Evarist Bartolo said in a joint press conference earlier today.

 “This is the first part of a project being run by the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC) with various opraetors and institutions including NCFHE, MCAS, OHSA and ETC among others,” a government statement reads.

The statement adds that the document proposes the introduction of five colour coded skill cards.

“A red one aimed at apprentices, a blue card aimed at workers, a silver card for artisanal workers, a gold card for technicians and a black card for professionals.”

“The cards aim to strengthen and further safeguard the health and security of employees in the industry,” the statement reads, adding that a further white card was being suggested for visitors of the construction site.

“The launch presents the implementation of yet another budgetary measure,” Dalli said, ecplaining that the skills card system will not just serve as a certificate of competence, but that it will also lead to peace of mind for consumers receiving services.

Dalli added that the government would also be regularizing the construction sector through this measure by instilling more professionalism in the sector given that each skill now carried its own certificate.

“The industry creates a vast number of jobs and these workers should have the opportunity to improve their craft,” education minister Evarist Bartolo said.

Bartolo added that thanks to a number of initiatives in favour of employment, and European funds, access to training had become increasingly easier.

“This step will help employees to continue building their skills.”

 BICC chairman Charles Buhagiar said that currently, workers in the industry were not given the necessary awareness and knowledge about their jobs, particularly for apprentices.

“These workers might be more  capable than we imagine, yet nothing truly shows off his skills,” Buhagiar said, adding that to obtain a skill card, people also had to obtain a certificate of competence issued by MCAST or ETC, after the necessary on site assessment was carried out.

He added that the first skills to benefit from these cards would be tile layers, painters, assistant electricians and plumbers.

The statement further added that a copy of the paper was downloadable at www.konsultazzjoni.gov.mt

It added that BICC would also organize an information session on Friday 9th October at 5.45 pm at the Old University building in Valetta, and that the meeting is open to anyone within the industry.

The public consultation will remain open until 20th November 2015.