Workers of the Detention Services Agency will benefit from better rights, conditions, and salaries thanks to the signing of a new collective agreement.

What was formerly a government department and transformed into an agency, the collective agreement that has been signed is the first for workers of this agency, a government statement read.

Through the collective agreement, the agency's workers will benefit from better career progression and recognition through substantial improvements in salaries and allowances.

Present at the signing was Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri who said that the agreement is one of a series of record agreements that the government has signed with workers' unions in the security sector of the country.

"This is another important agreement with the workers, an agreement led by the Public Administration's Industrial Relations Section along with the union and the officials representing these workers,” Camilleri said.

Previously, workers in this agency did not have fixed contracts and could be abruptly terminated. Camilleri said that today, these workers are recognized for the important work they do, with better conditions and salaries.

Secretary of the General Workers' Union Section Theo Vella said that through this collective agreement, the Detention Services Agency has taken another significant step where detention officers are making further progress in their working conditions.

Vella acknowledged the full cooperation from the agency's administration, as well as from the government, to seal a collective agreement with another group of workers.

Also present at the signing were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Home Affairs Joyce Dimech, Permanent Secretary Joyce Cassar and other officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (People and Standards), along with the General Secretary of the General Workers' Union Josef Bugeja, and other representatives of the workers in the Detention Services Agency.