The Malta Police Association said today that, while officers from the rank of constable to sergeant had been paid their CHOGM and Valletta Summit overtime dues, the senior ranks were still waiting to get paid for the extra hours they were forced to work during the two events.

The association accused the government of deceiving members of the force by giving the impression that the issue would be handled differently.

In a recent meeting Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela told the association that the (CHOGM ) task force fell under the OPM’s responsibility, not the ministry’s.

According to the government, and now even the administration of the Police Force, these officers who were forced to work more than 150 overtime hours were only entitled to a ‘disturbance allowance,’ which is capped at 10% of the basic salary. It said that the maximum amount that can be paid in ‘disturbance allowance’ is €170. Some officers were owed more than €2,000 in overtime for extra hours worked during the November events.

To add insult to injury, the lower ranks who were paid for CHOGM and Valletta Summit overtime were not paid the usual Sunday and public holiday allowances. All these manoeuvres, the MPA said, were not helping lift the morale of police officers.

This abuse has to stop once and for all, irrespectively of where this anomaly is coming from, the association said.  

It said this was not an issue of ‘disturbance’ but of officers who were forced to work extra hours. The members of the force are being denied their right of payment for work carried out and are also being denied the rights afforded to them under the Public Service Management Code.

The MPA said it will start a legal consultation process to seek legal remedies.