The Civil Protection workers with safer fire suits and immersion suits, and more suitable for the climate of our country, in order to perform their work better. This is so that our country is more prepared in case of need.
The budget for next year continued to consolidate expenditure in the Department of Civil Protection which in recent years has gone through a complete revolution thanks to the strong investment made by the government.
In a news conference the Minister for the Interior, Security and Work Byron Camilleri listed the priorities of the investment that will be made in Civil Protection which is a key link in the chain that supports the security of the our society. The continuous investment in the rights and conditions of the workers and in the tools they use is being done so that the country remains prepared for whatever may arise.
Minister Camilleri referred to the new protective clothing that has just been given to Civil Protection workers, including fire suits and immersion suits that are used in case of fires or floods. The protective clothing is safer for workers, apart from being 35 percent lighter, more comfortable and more suitable for the Maltese climate.
He said that the new protective clothing is far from the uniforms and second hand equipment that were given to the workers in the past years.
Minister Camilleri announced that from next year the government will be negotiating with the labor unions a new sectoral agreement for the Department of Civil Protection. “This is the next step after the Government recognized the service of this department as a disciplined body and gave them 25 services. For the first time he gave them the right to be paid for all the hours they work, allowances and incentives for career progress as well as more training opportunities,” said Minister Camilleri.
In the news conference he said that from a little over 130 workers twelve years ago, this department has been strengthened to 375 workers this year, with 50 more recruits training to join the department.
Minister Camilleri also listed the strengthening of the civil protection infrastructure including the extension of the Xemxija station and the maritime one while work is ongoing for a new station in Floriana and another one in Baħar i-ħagħaq. For the next year the department will add more specialized vehicles to control industrial, domestic and HAZMAT fires.
At the same time, a project of 40 CCTV on firefighting vehicles is being completed which will lead to officers in the control room having greater visibility on an incident and being able to decide more quickly how to provide help.
He said that the Government can give peace of mind that the investment will continue thanks also to the strong expenditure allocated in the budget for next year to the Department of Civil Protection.
Minister Camilleri said that the expenditure intended in the budget for Civil Protection indeed shows the Government’s priority to continue supporting the material and human resource investment in this department and equally in the quality of the people’s lives that the department strives to save and protect.
Photo: DOI / MHSE
