Police to seek legal redress over unpaid November summits overtime

Officers with the Malta Police Force have not yet been paid for the extra hours worked during the November Summits, the Malta Police Association said as it announced plans to seek legal redress.

According to the MPA, the officers who have not yet received their payment are angry and hurt at the government for failing to honour the agreement. The MPA explained that whilst members serving as constables up to the grade of sergeant major have received the payments, officers – fizzjali – have not.

In a statement, the MPA said it was in possession of correspondence that showed the home affairs ministry and the task force confirming that the officers would be paid.

The MPA said Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela had passed on the responsibility to the Office of the Prime Minister, as the ministry responsible of the task force.

“The government and the administration of the Police Force are basically saying that officers who worked an extra 150 hours will only be paid a ‘disturbance allowance’, which is capped at 10% of the basic salary,” the MPA said.

“In other words, officers might – at most – received €170 when they should be getting €2,000 or more.”

The MPA went on to argue that those members of the Police Corps who received their overtime payment were not paid the allowances due for having worked on Sundays and public holidays this month.

“These manoeuvres only serve to demoralise workers,” it added.

The MPA said it was time to move away from the origins of the payment anomaly and stop such abuse.

“This is not a question of ‘disturbance … officers were ordered and obliged to report to work. The officers are now being denied a civil right to be paid for work carried out.”