TOURISM MINISTRY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AGREE ON FURTHER MEASURES TO REDUCE DISTURBANCE CAUSED BY BUILDING WORKS IN TOURIST AREAS

Following the Tourism Ministry's decisions, subsequently endorsed by Cabinet, to prohibit road and trenching works by government departments and entities in tourist zones during the months of July, August and September, and the setting of times for construction work on private sector projects, the Ministry, the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) and the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (FOBC) have agreed on further measures designed to minimise noise and disturbances during the high season in tourist areas.

Contractors have been supplied with maps which indicate where building works can be undertaken subject to agreed conditions in Malta and Gozo's main tourist zones during the summer months

Following a meeting held under Minister Refalo's chairmanship attended by all interested parties and the FOBC's acceptance that as from the 1^st July to the end of September it will only be possible to undertake construction work subject to compliance to set conditions, agreement by consensus for implementation on a voluntary basis was reached on the following measures:

1. Construction work will not commence before 8.00 a.m.
2. Construction work to be suspended between the 14.00 and 15.30 hours.
3. No demolition works to be carried out during the months of July to September.
4. No excavation and rock cutting work to be carried out during the months of July to September however ripping and loading of already excavated material is permitted.
5. The FOBC undertook to inform all building contractors and urge them to comply with the terms of the agreement and make every effort to ensure that disturbance to residents and tourists within the agreed zones is kept to the bare minimum.

The FOBC will hold a General Meeting on the 25^th May to inform members of the agreement reached with the Ministry.

"Tourism and the construction industry are important economic sectors. We had to find a fine balance which serves the interests of both sectors. This year we have already had to deal with a number of instances and incidents where visitors holidays have been all but ruined by unregulated work practices and noise levels in the building industry."

Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo welcomed the agreement as yet another example of mutual understanding and consensus on the reciprocal importance of tourism and the construction industry and thanked all parties for their cooperation.

The Ministry – FOBC agreement was approved by Cabinet at this morning's meeting.