Updated 1.30pm with minister comments on video
High-ranking police officers from assistant commissioner grade upwards have received a salary top-up of about €10,000 a year through various allowances, on the same lines of the recent pay rise given to the army's top brass.
Though details of this agreement have not been released by the government, police sources told Times of Malta that, with this revision, assistant commissioners would be earning close to €50,000 a year.
Confirmation of this unprecedented rise came just two days after a story in The Sunday Times of Malta, which revealed that the army top brass had been given a 25 per cent pay rise. Until then that deal had been kept under wraps.
Asked for his reaction following a ceremony marking the appointment of 52 sergeants, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela yesterday justified both arrangements, saying it was meant to address a salary scale “anomaly” for members of disciplined forces.
“The revision was carried out to bring high-ranking army and police officers on the same level as director generals within the civil service. In such manner we are addressing existing anomalies, in line with the Labour Party manifesto,” he said.
The revision was carried out to bring high-ranking army and police officers on the same level as director generals within the civil service
While confirming that in the case of the police these changes would only apply from the rank of assistant commissioner upwards, the minister said he was neither aware of the amounts involved nor when they had come into force.
According to the financial estimates of the 2017 Budget, the grade of director general, has a basic annual remuneration package that starts from €36,573. However, the take-home pay is significantly higher due to a host of perks.
Police sources said the revised package for the top officials included a responsibility allowance, a car, and an annual performance bonus of up to 15 per cent of the basic salary.
“This means that their annual income has increased by some €10,000 overnight, and may come close to €50,000 a year,” they said.
These changes coincide with wide-ranging amendments to the Police Act, whereby the renewal of the police commissioner’s term will be on a performance basis. While the government has justified the move saying it increased accountability, the Opposition lashed out against it, saying it would place the police chief at the minister’s mercy.
As was the case of the army, a number of officers, who spoke with this newspaper on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that the agreement was a means for the government to tighten its grip on the force.
However, the Home Affairs Minister yesterday pointed out that army officers in the lower ranks who would do extra hours of duty in connection with Malta’s six-month EU presidency, would get paid €10.50 for every additional hour. This arrangement was unprecedented as army officers were not entitled to overtime, he said.
Mr Abela also refuted criticism that the government had kept what he described as the “procedural” pay rise given to senior officials under wraps, to avoid a backlash from the lower ranks. The government has nothing to hide on the matter, he added.