The workers of the Disciplined Forces are once again being recognized by the government, for the important work they carry out in the security and maintenance of order sectors in our country.
This is with legal amendments through which every worker of every Disciplined Body who has worked 29 years of service, will benefit from a non-taxable payment, equivalent to six months’ pay, at the end of each year, for four years over the 29 years. This means that in these four years he will have received a payment equivalent to two years’ pay, which is calculated on the basic salary of the grade in which he serves. This can be done by choice, just as the worker can also choose to take this payment at the end of the four additional years over the 29 years of service.
This was done in consultation and agreement with the unions representing these workers, who welcomed the fact that once again the government is strengthening their conditions. For its part, the GWU – Police Officer’s Union welcomed very positively the legal notice published and which also brings into force the Budget’s commitment to further strengthen incentives for those who remain in the Police Force after 25 years of service. They maintained that it was already good to introduce a strong incentive for those who do up to 29 years of service, but that now one can, by personal choice, start benefiting from the same incentive earlier, is something positive. The Malta Police Union also welcomed the result of the discussions with the unions and that the voice of these workers was not only once again listened to, but action was also taken.
Both unions thanked the government for the open dialogue it maintained with them and that they will continue to support initiatives that take care of workers in such an important sector, that of security.
In fact, this strengthening of the working conditions of workers in the disciplined forces is combined with the improvements that had been made in recent months in the service pension. This is as a service pension system increased by 23% is now being implemented for those workers who have retired after 29 years of service. Also, the legal framework has been put into operation by which every worker who has performed meritorious service and has continued to serve beyond 25 years of service, will have an assured service pension, together with the implementation of a service pension for widows of workers in the disciplined forces.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri said that the track record of this government shows, through what it has implemented, that it keeps the worker first and that it not only rewards diligence but also recognises the invaluable work carried out by the disciplined forces. He reiterated that an investment in these workers is also an investment in Maltese and Gozitan families as all this always leads to a better service, also because this is leading to the longer serving Force workers passing on what they know to new workers while using their experience to serve better.
Minister Byron Camilleri concluded by saying that he now looks forward to the implementation of new sectoral and collective agreements for the same workers in the respective disciplined bodies in the near future, after the new sectoral agreement that has continued to improve the conditions of Police Force officers began to be implemented in recent months.
Photo: Malta Police
