Judges set to receive uncapped pensions
Pension packages may mirror MPs’
Malta’s judiciary. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Judges and magistrates are set to receive uncapped pensions similar to retirement arrangements for parliamentarians, The Times has learnt.
This means retired judges and magistrates will receive two-thirds of their actual salary. Other pensioners receive two-thirds of an established threshold, set at a maximum of €21,000.
The details of its implementation are still being worked out but there is agreement in principle between the government and the judiciary, according to sources close to the judiciary.
This change, which would also apply to retired judges and magistrates, forms part of a package of reforms for the judiciary recently revealed by The Sunday Times.
The plan is to raise their retirement age from 65 to 68 and to implement more effective surveillance of their performance.
It would come alongside an agreed raise of €12,000 for all the members of the judiciary, staggered over three years, which means that, by 2015, a judge will be receiving a total package of about €62,500 while a magistrate will get just under €57,000.
However, it is not yet clear what this will translate to in terms of pension because a significant portion of this salary package is comprised of allowances, which are not taken into consideration for a pension.
A spokesman for Justice Minister Chris Said, who is leading the negotiations, would not confirm that an uncapped pension was on the cards but said the judiciary’s pension scheme was under discussion.
“The details will be announced once negotiations are over.
“You will appreciate that we cannot comment on matters that are still being discussed,” he said.
Currently, pensions are capped at a maximum income of €16,000 for those born before 1951 and about €21,000 for people born after 1962.
The capping is adjusted for the latter in line with cost of living and salary increases.
Irrespective of one’s income prior to retirement, the maximum pension people can expect to receive is two-thirds of the capped sum.
Parliamentarians, members of Cabinet and Speakers who would have served for five years, on the other hand, receive two-thirds of their average salary in these positions, without capping.
The reform comes as a long overdue shake-up that the government is hoping will address complaints about the efficiency of the judiciary.
From October 1, the courts will have a diary system through which all cases will be appointed and heard by a specific time and date.
Moreover, the judiciary’s watchdog, the Commission for the Administration of Justice, should be given new powers to censure judges and magistrates after facing consistent criticism for being toothless.
Some of the changes require the support of a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. This means the government would require the opposition’s support.
When contacted, the Labour Party spokesman for justice, José Herrera said he felt he could not take a public stand on the proposed reform before the matter was discussed by the Parliamentary Group.
“I can confirm that the government has informed us of the discussions but we’ll have to discuss the matter internally before taking a position,” he said.
News of the salary increase comes after the Prime Minister announced similar improvements to the conditions of the Police Force.
Both issues were raised by rebel backbencher Franco Debono in his criticism of former Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.
Governments across Europe have had to face the challenge of making a judicial career attractive to lawyers who often have to abandon a more lucrative private practice.
But the changes also come amid growing concerns about the sustainability of the pension system.
Members of the judiciary in England and Wales only this year started contributing a small percentage of their £100,000-plus salaries into their retirement pots.
The change attracted criticism from the judiciary and the public, the former complaining that the contribution contravenes their contracts and the latter that the cost-cutting does not go far enough to reflect the sacrifice being made by the rest of the population in the recession.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
101 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Matthew Grima
Aug 21st 2012, 23:54
"The reform is part of a shake-up that the government hopes will address complaints about the courts’ efficiency"
So they're getting more money to do what they should be doing now?
Seems fair. Can you please send the memo to my boss?
wayne scicluna
Aug 21st 2012, 22:46
All animals are equal but some are more equal than others. George Orwell.
Tony Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 23:20
Not against, indeed in favour of uncapped pensions, but why should the elite get uncapped pensions together with their fabulous salaries and perks and us lesser mortals have our pensions capped if and when we succeed in getting a pension?
Michael Walter
Aug 20th 2012, 21:34
Gonzi takes the buscuit.More carrots for the overprivileged and overpaid.Guess who is going to get the stick.
Joseph Grech Attard
Aug 20th 2012, 21:09
This is injustice at its best. Magistrates and judges should do their job well. Increasing their pensions is not going to make them work better. If this happens, we citizens shall take the government to the EU court of justice. It is sheer discrimination! What kind of morality and ethics is this?
V. Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 18:53
Problem is in 1971 the new Labour administration found a depleted national insurance fund and had to build up fresh resources from scratch, making high NI contributions obligatory for everyone and introducing a two-thirds pension system nationwide. What then went wrong was that the actuarial system which was hitherto used to calculate rates and pensions was done away with and so the nation was dumped with an open-ended system which only depended on the political whim and timing of the government in office though still using the same criteria as would have applied in any proper actuarial based contribution and payment system.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 20th 2012, 18:51
THE MORE LAWRENCE GONZI IS CONVINCED THAT HE WILL BE LOSING THE ELECTION, THE MORE HE WILL BE HANDING OUT SUCH GIFTS, THUS INCREASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO BE CARRIED BY THE INCOMING PL GOVERNMENT !
EXPECT SIMILAR MOVES IN THE NEXT BUDGET !
E. Azzopardi
Aug 20th 2012, 17:46
So what about US, the other CITIZENS?
I truly hope that our courts will finally function like clockwork. Only time will tell if this will work.
victor bonello
Aug 20th 2012, 17:45
max pensions are around euro900 monthly.. it is good to that these gentlemen ( and parliamentarians) get well paid ( as long as they do a good job) , but I do not see why they should get more pension once they retire.
Any businessman no matter how many taxes of national insurance he pays gets the max of 900 euros.. per month..
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 20th 2012, 17:40
This is in fullfillment of the scriptural "To those that have more will be given but to those who have not, even the little that they have will be taken away"
Eddy Privitera
Aug 20th 2012, 18:45
On this one I heartily agree !
Steve M. Engerer
Aug 20th 2012, 18:51
Well said Dr. Saliba..
R. Cilia
Aug 20th 2012, 21:35
When Jesus spoke those words he was not refering to money, however the sentence you chose from the bible depicts a good picture of how your GonziPN always discriminates in favour of the strong and mighty!
Tony Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 23:21
Well said Dr Saliba. I fully agree with you on this.
Kenneth Azzopardi
Aug 20th 2012, 17:17
Now that they have received this financial aid package can we finally expect them to deliver some work after resting on their laurels for all these year. The euopean courts deliver judgement in two years would this be too much to ask for from our judiciary at least act like your counterparts if you want to get paid the same amount for your services to our community.
GL Calleja
Aug 20th 2012, 17:15
Why is the government rewarding these same people who made our courts the butt joke in all of Europe? Is this fair to the rest of the citizens? If you are going to give a raise to somebody, make them earn their pay and also, take away that free Limo service for them and their families.. You can always smell a general election approaching. But not all citizens are equal.
Tony Scicluna
Aug 20th 2012, 17:03
Discrimination all the way!!! It has nothing to do with how much the judicary work or not. It has nothing to do with the reform to address complaints about the courts efficiency, if the judicary start getting uncapped pensions the Government must give retired employees two-thirds of the current salary of the post they occupied before retired, otherwise where is the shout of solidarity and justice.
j brincat
Aug 20th 2012, 16:58
Discrimination in favour of the privileged few.
And the other workers 'jibqaghu jittewbu'
Hurray GonziPN! - You're bound to gain a handful of votes but loose hundreds by this 'eve of election' gesture!
(ib)
Ronald Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 16:31
I see my previous reference to George Orwell's Animal Farm and "all animals being equal apart from some" whom we all know who they were, struck a sour note as it disappeared from here after just two minutes..Well what can I say? One cant win them all!
M Borg
Aug 20th 2012, 16:18
What about all workers who always pay very high NI contributions and still receive a pension which is much lower than two thirds of their actual salary ?
Why not increase the capped pension for all workers ? On a separate note should the judiciary be given a higher pension just to make them perform better ?
Joseph Scicluna
Aug 20th 2012, 15:06
If , as stated in the report, Government is contemplating granting to the members of the Judiciary the same pension privileges currently enjoyed by MPs , that would indeed be a big mistake as it would be highly discriminatory in relation to all the other classes of employees in the Public Service , including the professional classes who are equally qualified and who also hold positions of responsibility.Moreover if ,as the report also states, the proposed pension rights for the Judiciary are also to be extended to retired members then these arrangements would also be grossly discriminatory in relation to the thousands of retired public officers.
The proposed pension arrangements ,if actually implemented , will without any shadow of doubt result in considerable pressure on this and on future Administrations for similar treatment , this at a time when all European Union Member States are taking steps to contain their spend on retirement pensions . The Minister who is conducting these negotiations would be well advised to proceed more carefully on this issue and to weigh its industrial, social , financial and political implications.
Joseph Scicluna
John Vella
Aug 20th 2012, 15:04
the very least the government should do is, give the courts a couple of years to put their act together and if they succeed then we discuss wage increases, but definitely not the other way round!! ....... Just imagine we give all these increases only to find that we are back to square one with delays and incompetent management.. And as usual its, the problem is everybody's faults except ours....
ANTHONY PAVIA
Aug 20th 2012, 16:22
As happened with the Public sector's reform (?). A lot of words/promises and a lot of money paid out. Result! Performance worse than before as they created more chiefs than indians; and promises were very soon forgotten. Not enough though! The incessant braying for more "justice" started immediately following the signing of the collective agreement.
Kieron O'connor
Aug 20th 2012, 14:55
It would be very interesting to hear why the the judges and the politicians think they should be treated any different to the ordinary person, do they think themselfs special and above the ordinary citizen and thus requiring special treatment?
Carmel Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 14:53
And all this when we are constanly told that our pension system is unsustainable and Government has a problem tackling the deficit. The mind boggles. I think that this issue should have been part of an overall pension reform and left after the imminent elections. It seems that Gonzi never learns.
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 20th 2012, 14:50
One contributor says he will sue the government for discrimination if the judges start receiving uncapped pensions. Recently, I believe we have been promised that class action will be possible soon in Malta. Maybe the pensioneers associations should seriously consider such class action against such blatant, biased and unreasonable difference in treatment, even up to the EU if necessary.
Lucienne Dimech
Aug 20th 2012, 14:38
Why are some treated better than others how ironically injust such a decision is. Will these people at least start to do their job better or will they still hide behind the law to give out nonsensical sentences as we have gotten used to seeing?
J Mizzi
Aug 20th 2012, 14:22
If this law goes through, I'll sue the Government of Malta for discrimination in Brussels!
Sorry Government of Malta (PN or MLP), we live in a democracy not a dictatorship, what applies to judges applies to everyone.
John Vella
Aug 20th 2012, 15:00
damn right Mr Mizzi
Manuel Briffa
Aug 20th 2012, 15:46
Indeed Mr Mizzi, the discrimination already exists with parliamentarians. They all get their full 2/3rds pension, unlike us mere mortals, who have to make do with a 'capped' pension. What are we, children of a lesser God? Where's the logic behind this horribly unjust system?
Tony Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 23:25
I will support you and perhaps people can start a class action.
As Mr Briffa said this is already carried out by the politicians who get better terms for their pensions and revisions according to the current salaries while the rest of us will have our pensions capped and also they get their pension after being elected twice while we have to work, if we survive, according to an ever-increasing age.
john muscat
Aug 20th 2012, 14:18
So now the pensions are sustajnable??? Where are the moaners who talk about the sustainability of the pension system? Or is it only for the poor workman who has to take brunt of everything? Cuc Malti.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 20th 2012, 14:01
Like somebody already said:
"Minn fejn ser igib il-flus ghal dawn iz-zidiet sur Gonzi"?
m. borg (slm)
Aug 20th 2012, 13:59
V Mercieca
Today, 11:07
"Currently, pensions are capped at a maximum income of €16,000 for those born before 1951 and about €21,000 for people born after 1962."
What about those born between 1951 and 1962, they get what?
Tony Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 23:26
That is also another form of discrimination. because why should a date make a difference to your pension if you have paid the required amount of contributions? Discrimination by the highest authorities of the State.
Jay Oatmon
Aug 20th 2012, 13:55
The myth of "Public Service" is exposed for what it really is - "Self Service" for half a job and nothing more.
Peter Agius
Aug 20th 2012, 13:53
Being inefficient means having more benefits......well done.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Aug 20th 2012, 13:46
Mhux hekk hux, kollox f'waqtu. Bhalissa kollox sejjertajjeb u nista naghmluhom dawn l-affarijiet!!
Gaetano Mallia
Aug 20th 2012, 13:31
Some men (and women) are truly more equal than others. What a disgrace!
J. Fiorentino
Aug 20th 2012, 13:09
"Currently, pensions are capped at a maximum income of €16,000 for those born before 1951 and about €21,000 for people born after 1962"
And for those born between 1951 and 1962? Can the esteemed reporter provide valid info to make the article complete?
T Mizzi
Aug 20th 2012, 13:05
Aktar minn elf kawza Civili pendenti quddiem il-Qrati jistennew sentenza ghal iktar minn tmintax il-xahar li ilhom jigu differiti minn seduta ghall-ohra pero' is-sentenza finali ma tinghata qatt.
Fejn hi il-kontabilita ta dawn il-membri tal-gudikatura li minghajr gustifikazzjoni jiddilungaw izzejjed fil-pronunzjament ta-sentenzi taghhom.
X'qed jistenna l-Ministru Said biex jaghmel riforma li sentenza ghandha tinghata fi zmien ragenevoli?
..."evitajt kemm stajt id-dewmien fl-ghoti tas-sentenzi" Judge Philip Sciberras
Alfred Falzon
Aug 20th 2012, 13:01
I am sorry to say that this increase is, in my opinion, an insult to the hardworking class. By such an action the government is creating a class distinction even among pensioners. We have the President, the Prime Minister, former Presidents, former Prime Ministers, MPs that have a privileged pension. Now the judiciary are jointing the milking cow but what about Joe Citizen?
Charles Grixti
Aug 20th 2012, 14:17
That is what you get when you vote in Right-Wing governments - more money for them and less for the working classes - call it an insult if you will be that is the nature of the beast and it will only get worse - the lower and middle class has to be stripped of all its previous gains with the ultimate aim to creating a two-tier society, the rich on top and the poor at the bottom. The same model that was in force in South America by the fascist Juntas (backed by the US and CIA) has now been made to be the 'ideal' model for all of the world thanks to Globalism, the War on Terror, and the idea that if we make the rich richer, somehow the wealth will 'trickle down' to the rest of us, known as the "Trickle Down" theory of economics, of course all with the help of the IMF and other neo-con agencies.
P. Zammit
Aug 20th 2012, 13:01
This is discrimination !! Why should my pension be capped and whilst a member of the judiciary enjoy an uncapped pension. Aren't we BOTH paying National Insurance contributions ? They difference being that if we are working in the private sector and are inefficient we get fired .. whilst the judiciary gets away with everything and to top it all they get an increase in pension.
Mario Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 12:58
Dan ifisser li ser ikollom din il-penzjoni grandjuża għaliex ma jkunux jistgħu jlaħqu mal-ħajja la darba jirtiraw mix-xogħol?
U jekk dawn ser jirtiraw, għaliex din il-penzjoni grandjuża jekk issa ser jispiċċaw ċiċċi beqqi jaqraw il-ġurnali forsi wkoll 'by the pool enjoying a cocktail' u mhux aktar ser jibqgħu jikkontribwixxu lejn il-pajjiż?
Għaliex il-penzjoni m'għandix tkun għal kulħadd l-istess mal-eta tal-irtirar ġa la darba wieħed/waħda jirtiraw għal kollox mill-impjieġ irrispettivament min ikunu u x'jagħmlu?
Il-gass, il-fjuwil, id-dawl u l-ilma, il-mediċina, il-VAT u l-ħajja b'dak kollu relatat mal-għixin diċenti u uman mhux l-istess għal kulħadd? Jew kif qal George Orwell "all animals are equal but some more equal than others"!! Il-problema hija li dawn il-penzjonijiet l'ebda ministru jew PM mhu ser joħroġhom minn butu, imma aħna rridu nagħmlu tajjeb għalihom, aħna li qed naħdmu biex nipprovaw nagħtu lil uliedna ħajja diċenti.
U hawn allura nistaqsi, x'hinu l-aħjar taħdem biex tpaxxi 'l ħaddieħor jew titnikker avolja jekk ma tkunx komdu , imma għalmenu ma taħdimx għal ħaddieħor biex jgħix fil-lussu hu/hi? U fuq kollox, qed ninsew kemm lilna jsallbuna tilgħin u niżlin għal xejn u bil-flus li jtellfunau inkluż b'kawżi li għandhom is-snin fuqhom?
Ray Buhagiar
Aug 20th 2012, 12:58
Will this improve productivity? will this improve how fines, penalties are given? I sincerely hope so.
Mr Joe Cardona
Aug 20th 2012, 12:57
Prosit. mela minghandu jinghata aktar u miskin min qed jirregistra jibqa' b'idu vojta jew imur jittallab.
Sew jghidu l-forka qeghda ghall-izvinturat.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Aug 20th 2012, 12:55
Why only Judges?? are they the only ones who pay social contributions?? ...........
W Cassar
Aug 20th 2012, 12:45
So you reward poor performance with more money... amazing!!
If we are not careful we are going to end up like Greece with this mentality.
Mr Adrian Zahra
Aug 20th 2012, 12:24
Hey Dr Gonzi. There is a road which urgently needs surfacing and which has been spelling dust and dirt down our throats and that of our children for the past three years can you manage to find a couple thousand quid and get it surfaced, so may be we can start enjoying our hard earned private property peacefully, which by the way is our right.
anthony sultana
Aug 20th 2012, 12:20
This government is making the poor working hard for the rich to become richer.
Emanuel Farrugia
Aug 20th 2012, 12:14
You've got to hand it to GonziPN, his timing is perfect, just a few months before a general election. And he is killing two birds with one stone. He has accepted the reform and will be getting their vote and if the money is not paid out by election time, the Labour Party will have to rack their brains to see where the money is coming from. Brilliant GonziPN, just brilliant.
D Borg
Aug 20th 2012, 12:03
The judiciary do NOT deserve such privilege.....
however the parliamentarians deserve the privilege they jolly shower themselves even LESS.
We need someone who really represents the taxpayers in parliament, and who does not conveniently mix the interest of the general public with that of his/her party and friends (read donors - in kind and monetary).
Michael Grech
Aug 20th 2012, 11:57
And then when Caritas calls for an increase in the minimum wage, government accolytes call this 'irrealistic'
Alfred Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 11:46
Well may be the food they buy is more expensive then ours , It's time to start thinking of building Disney land , cause all caracters are here , wow I forgot we have the new old opera theater now may be we can use it some how or an other
Alfred Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 11:43
Sure PM MP Mr. Said , the uncapped pension will not be given from your pocket but from our pockets and also from our children's bread , FLUS JAGHMLU FLUS U QAMEL JAGHMEL IL QAMEL This was our fathers saying , well done Mr GONZI PN
twanny borg
Aug 20th 2012, 11:42
il-gudikanti irtirati se jiehdu zieda ukoll. il-pulizija li irtiraw din is-sena se jiehdu l-bonus moghti l-pulizija?
vella m
Aug 20th 2012, 11:42
Pensioners receiving the lowest pensions are living in poverty,this is what the government should be addressing and not making the rich richer.Malta wake up!
ALBERT FENECH
Aug 20th 2012, 11:40
This is a travesty of justice if there ever was one. Parliamentarians already receive an uncapped pension and now Judges and Magistrates are on the verge of getting the same. Some Parliamentarians hardly ever turn up for Parliament and the performance of many is beyond belief. Judges and Magistrates are provided with limousines, clerks and attendants - many allow cases to drag on for years and many others treat the public badly, leaving them waiting around for hours etc etc. As for honest Joe/Jane Bloggs who has to face a lifetime of work, has to respond to demanding employers, has to ensure he/she is at work on time, every time and raises eyebrows if he/she report sick - have to struggle by on a pension pittance. Is there any shadow of doubt that we are living in an unequal society with the sole beneficiaries being the elite and the privileged?
ALBERT FENECH
andrew falzon
Aug 20th 2012, 11:37
Kull darba li Jospeh Muscat jipproponi xi haga ghall meta ikun fil gvern jaqbez gonzlupn u jistaqsuh "min fejn ser iggib il flus?" U issa jien nistaqsi lill dan gonzlupn l- istess, "min fejn ser iggib il- flus biex twettaq din ir-riforma?"
Meta ftit ilu kont qed nara dokumentarju tal BBC fuq il- falliment tal Grecja, gie intervistat ekonomista Grieg, u il- presentatur staqsieh ta min jahseb li hu it tort ta dan il- falliment, ir- risposta kienet ....." tad - demokrazija", ghax il- partiti fil Grecja kienu jibdew jonfqu qabel l- elezzjoni dak li il-pajjiz ma kienx jiflah ghalieh u spiccaw falluti, l- istess haga qed jigri hawn Malta.
aldo Attard
Aug 20th 2012, 11:36
We are all equal, but I am more equal than you.
Your company was running at a loss, we could not go on subsidizing your work place.
We give you early retirement scheme as you are very near retirement age but besides tax and vat you have also to pay NI
But than as.....
Our stately establishments are making many Euro millions in profits, so.............
We uncap their pensions.........
The common people are children of a lesser God.
Shame on you when you come to visit us in our poor kitchens.
James Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 11:31
And those born between 1951 and 1962? And what is it about this capping? I believe that this was virtually the only issue that our two main political parties agreed about; of course; it concerned their own private finances. George Orwell could not have siad it better that "some animals are more equal than others". If the government (any government ) wants to be just it should remove the capping of pensions for everybody.
M Farrugia
Aug 20th 2012, 11:28
Jekk veru isir hekk alllura se tkompli tikber id-diskriminazzjoni bejn haddiema u iehor, se tkompli tinholoq aktar firda bejn minghandu is-sahha u minn ma ghandux. Nispera li l-Unions kollha allura issa jibdew negozjati mal-Gvern sabiex it-treshold tal-haddiema jitla u jsir aktr rjali. dan huwa kaz iehor li ghal certa nies hemm flus u ghal haddiema ma hemmx. Diskirminazzjoni fl-aqwa taghha. Sewwa jghidu lil min ghndu kompli ghatih. in se tkun ingssa ohra tal-P>N> jekk isehh qabel l-elezzzjoni.
Chris Xuereb
Aug 20th 2012, 11:22
"The reform is part of a shake-up that the government hopes will address complaints about the courts’ efficiency" And if this doesn't work will they give the money back?
Carmel De Gabriele
Aug 20th 2012, 11:10
AH GONZI you got to pay me much much more for my vote!
Barney Camilleri
Aug 20th 2012, 11:08
If only someone in the local magazine business will have the guts to put up this 'Newsweek' front page heading: Hit the road Obama we need a new president.
Just the name need to be changed.
V Mercieca
Aug 20th 2012, 11:07
"Currently, pensions are capped at a maximum income of €16,000 for those born before 1951 and about €21,000 for people born after 1962."
Why is the discrimination between those born before 1951 and those born after 1962?
No wonder that there are many pensioners on the verge of poverty if they have a capping of only € 16,000 instead of € 21,000.
Those born before 1951 are all pensioners now; however those born after 1962 are still in prime of working life being 50 years or less.
Malcolm Mifsud
Aug 20th 2012, 11:04
For what? For making the general public lose confidence in the judiciary? For treating the general public like trash? For the multitude of pending cases? For being powerless with the powerful and merciless with the defenceless? Give me a life.
M Farrugia
Aug 20th 2012, 11:28
nzqbel mieghek mija fil-mija habib
Alfred Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 11:38
Well said Mr. Mifsud, Just remember these last fees weeks what kind of judgments and penalties where given . WE ALL LOST OUR CONFIDENCE IN MALTESE JUDICARY . HEJ What about those two that where found guilty of bribery will they get uncapped pension too
Anthony Grech
Aug 20th 2012, 13:10
100% right Mr. Mifsud.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Aug 20th 2012, 10:57
One trusts that if capping is abandoned for the judiciary then the same criterion will be applied to other senior public officials such as doctors, senior civil servants , University academics and the police who have contributed just as much to the nation's stability and progress as the judiciary.This move would be a dangerous development if it discriminates and will create a lot of anger and rancour in the ranks of other senior public officials who have served the nation faithfully. It is much better if the whole concept of capping be reviewed for all former public officals especially those who are now getting less than one third of the current salary of the equivalent post they occupied.
Marco Pisani
Aug 20th 2012, 10:57
Unlike other journalists, Mark Micallef justly acknowledged that these issues were raised by Onor. Franco Debono.
All these reforms were being blocked by Carm Mifsud Bonnici, that's why he had to resign.
Thomas Rubicon
Aug 20th 2012, 10:47
Why is it that everytime I see a picture such as this, I feel sad.
John L Galea
Aug 20th 2012, 10:44
Viva l-elezzjoni. Nispera li anke jien niehu z-zieda u dak kollu li GonziPN qed iqassam b'mod iddisprat biex jirbah il-voti.
Jay Oatmon
Aug 20th 2012, 10:32
Not bad for only three mornings a week in court - and the massive delays in court proceedings are someone else's problems it seems.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 20th 2012, 10:32
Everything points to electoral Public Relation exercises.
While promising to improve the position of the higher echelon little is being done or at least promised to improve the situation of the lower and middle class who are shouldering the burdens to keep those in the higher strata happy.
Shame on gonzipn for its hypocrisy and selfishness.
Pat Hobson
Aug 20th 2012, 10:32
As the song goes "The Rich get Richer, and the Poor get Poorer"! When is the national pension going to be raised for the pensioners to be able to live humanly?
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Aug 20th 2012, 10:31
And they say that some are not more equal than others!
And what about the ordinary citizen?
Of course, OUR pensions are CAPPED!
Animal Farm, anyone?
JC.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Aug 20th 2012, 12:55
One trusts that a formula be found to give a fair and just pension to all those who have retired and not discriminate between retired employees who equally served the country. Because of capping I get a pension which is about 1/4 the salary of the current equivalent post. How different it was under Dom Mintoff when except for a handful of persons two thirds pension really meant two thirds and my father ended up getting a pension higher than the salary when he was working. Pensioners now face a double whammy because their life savings are hardly earning any interest income with interest rates at one percent and inflation at 3.5 per cent. Perhaps the country can no longer afford to give everyone a two-thirds pension but in fairness we pensioners should all be treated the same. Rather then let the judiciary enter the select pension club of the MPS I suggest that the pension should be 50 per cent of the current post for all with a minimum capping so that the lowly paid will also benefit.from a living wage.
Dominic Chircop
Aug 20th 2012, 14:14
Rell that to your PM, Joseph!!!
Charles Grixti
Aug 20th 2012, 14:26
Never mind a fair pension for all. The unstated aim for all governments is to remove the National Pension althogther. One has to save during his working life and buy a private pension scheme. Those that are not able to do this for any reason, too bad you starve or beg.
This is where we are heading folks! The rich want it all.
D Borg
Aug 20th 2012, 10:29
'....Governments across Europe have had to face the challenge of making a judicial career attractive to lawyers who often have to abandon a more lucrative private practice....'
So a magistrate will be earning Eur.57k...
Would be interesting to have the Commissioner of Inland Revenue & VAT, communicate what self-employed lawyers (and/or partners of law firms) declare their annual income to be?
But alas, parliament is full of lawyers and none of them would want to cross their peers...
william cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 10:17
The report says ''pensions are capped at a maximum income of €16,000 for those born before 1951 and about €21,000 for people born after 1962'' This means that those borne before 1951 can get a maximum yearly pension of €9,900 and those born after 1962 a maximum year pension of €13,860.
Is the cost of living that much cheaper for the first than for the second. No it isn't, in fact I think it's the opposite, more medicines and more home help is needed, not unless you are prepared to live in abject poverty. You can see this in a lot of town houses where homes are literally falling to pieces because they cannot afford the upkeep. At a max of €9,900 (that is Lm 4250.00 who still think like me) per year can two people afford food, lodging, home help, medicines, paying service facilities and the upkeep maintenance of their home. No they can't.
V. Cauchi
Aug 20th 2012, 12:06
Things are worse off for persons born after 1962. While the difference in income capping is 75%, the difference in pension received will only be 40%. At the current rate of inflation a pension will in 2027, when it will start being given at age 65, be very much equivalent to its present money's worth.
M Sciberras
Aug 20th 2012, 10:15
Long long overdue. I find it incredible that these salary increases have taken so long to be introduced. I am extremely perturbed however that details of the reforms in the judicial process are coming out in dribs and drabs - is there no white paper somewhere that clearly sets out what is being proposed?
Charles Micallef
Aug 20th 2012, 10:13
Judges set to receive uncapped pensions...................... and how would this improve efficiency, or do we keep throwing taxpayers good money after bad?
Charles Zammit
Aug 20th 2012, 10:11
Right, now what about the X members of the British Forces getting back what has been stolen and is still being stolen from them ie their hard earned foreign pensions .
Bruno Zahra
Aug 20th 2012, 10:09
Does this uncapped pension scheme, which also includes allwances, apply to the whole civil service ? What about news of the long overdue of the collective agreement of the civil service....any news? What about the talk the government has been talking about sustainable penion schemes for the whole society?
Tom Broadley
Aug 20th 2012, 10:04
Nice work if you can get it.
vella m
Aug 20th 2012, 10:00
And what about us the common workers, are we children of a lesser God.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 20th 2012, 09:57
Will Judges and magistrates start receiving the new pension as soon as they reach the normal retirement age, presently 62, if I remember correctly, or when they reach the retirement age for Judges and magistrates, now 65, and with the reform, 68 years ?
Michael Borg
Aug 20th 2012, 09:50
will receive two-thirds of their actual salary.
would come alongside an agreed raise of €12,000
mhux hekk and we get 1.5 euro a week !!! and capped pension !!1 par idejn sodi !!!!
( so they give a suspended sentence )
VERA POPLU GAHAN !!!!!
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 20th 2012, 09:49
I hope that afterwards the pensions of us mortals will also be capped to I do not know who.
George Busuttil
Aug 20th 2012, 09:45
Hekk sewwa dejjem inzidu l-privileggi ta' dawk li diga huma privileggjati bizzejjed u ahna l-haddiema z-zghar nibqghu nitqannew bil-loqom.
J Degabriele
Aug 20th 2012, 09:43
As usual, normal hard-working citizens are children of a lesser God!
Ethelbert Schembri
Aug 20th 2012, 09:39
So let us make think about this ... they are being given an astronomical increase + the condition that they will have an astronomical pension, all this to shake them up !! It seems the Govt is seeing that they are hard asleep on their job, well even us common mortals are seeing that too !!
Hoo .. a msg to the Govt, what has happened to all that blathering about productivity ??? So we common mortals need to spit blood to get an increase of less then €2/ week and these just need to sleep on their job to get that astronomical increase and all their privileges !!
And it's better if I don't get in to the merit of the reacent sentences from these nice people !!
carlos ellul
Aug 20th 2012, 09:35
Considering the effectiveness and efficiency of our courts i dare to say that they deserve better
:sarcasm off:
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 20th 2012, 09:24
A person with 100% disability gets about Euro330 per month. A person who has contributed to the N.I fund for over 40 years gets a maximum of about Euro 11,000 per annum, whatever position he had held. The fact that MP's gave themselves uncapped pensions was an abhorrent action to the rest of the working population. They are now gong to compound their mistake, thus further alienating the majority of pensioneers, actual and prospective.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 20th 2012, 09:18
Why uncapped pensions for some and not for all others?
This is blatant discrimination!
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 20th 2012, 09:18
Now how about reforming the law to bring it into the 21st. century?
Please choose the reason of your report below: