1,500 policemen again plead for overtime pay
Almost 1500 policemen have filed a judicial protest calling on the Commissioner of Police to pay them for overtime work accumulated over the years, or grant time time off in lieu. The protest is the second filed since October 2009, with the policemen...
Almost 1500 policemen have filed a judicial protest calling on the Commissioner of Police to pay them for overtime work accumulated over the years, or grant time time off in lieu.
The protest is the second filed since October 2009, with the policemen saying that no reply had been made to their first protest and they had been offered only a fraction of what is due tot hem.
The policemen explained that the terms of their working conditions, as drawn up in 1993, state that: "payment of overtime at 1.5 times the rate of pay will be made for any hours worked in excess of 46 hours per week when time off in lieu cannot be given."
The policemen said it was inconceivable and unacceptable that in a democratic country, for policemen to be treated in this way, especially when the government should be a model employer.
The policemen said that that unless they were compensated immediately, they would take all actions available to them at law.
The protest was signed by Dr Robert Abela and Gerald Bonello LP.
In January last year, after the first protest, the Police Commissioner said there was no outstanding overtime to be paid to members of the force.
Asked about the judicial protest Commissioner John Rizzo said: "I can put your minds at rest that every hour worked outside the normal hours have been paid for."
The GWU in a reaction to today's statement said it was backing the plea made by the police. It insisted that the government should pay the policemen what they are due.