Some 1,750 Armed Forces of Malta soldiers will this week start receiving thousands of euros in arrears under the terms of a collective agreement signed last year.

In a statement, the Home Affairs Ministry said that the arrears go back a number of years and that the payments fall under the collective agreement – which was a first – signed last year.

Under this agreement, the government is investing €8.2 million more per year in salaries alone, the Ministry said.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said: “While in recent years, major investments were done in the AFM, this agreement will continue to improve the working conditions of Maltese soldiers and incentivise them to keep serving the country.”

The Ministry said that the AFM will be opening a call for new recruits in the coming period, and Camilleri encouraged youths to consider national service as a career path, saying that not only will they have a disciplined and rewarding career, but they will have one with the proper conditions.