With an investment of more than 2 million euros, another agreement was signed between the government, the Armed Forces and the General Workers Union for a period of two years for the 1,600 members of all soldiers from the rank of major to gunner as financial compensation for the work they perform in additional tasks.
This agreement was signed during a press conference with the theme “Achieving Together”, which was also attended by Interior Minister Byron Camilleri.
In recent years, a number of collective agreements have come into force that improve the working conditions and remuneration of all employees of disciplinary bodies, which are a mainstay of the security sector in our country.
One of the most important principles that came into force as a result of these agreements is that each employee will receive financial compensation for the hours worked beyond 40 hours, apart from increases in other benefits.
These agreements were also able to be reached within the framework of a lively social dialogue, following the first time that employees in the disciplinary area were granted the right to union representation.
This adjustment stems from a review clause in the payment of additional benefits under the first sectoral agreement of this kind for soldiers.
Minister Byron Camilleri reiterated that the government will continue to comply with all the clauses of the collective agreements signed in recent years. He stressed that it will invest more than 15 million euros annually for five years for the five thousand employees of the police, prison, civil defence and armed forces.
Minister Byron Camilleri reiterated that the government will continue to comply with every clause of every collective agreement signed in recent years. He stressed that it will invest over 15 million euros per year for five years for the five thousand employees of the police, penitentiary, civil defense and armed forces.
The minister also explained how the first agreement was reached for police officers, which was then followed by the procedure for all other disciplinary bodies. He added that he was looking forward to also concluding a new agreement on salaries and better working conditions for the same police force this year, after the five years provided for in the agreement for the police.
Theo Vella, secretary of the General Workers Union of the Section of Disciplinary Bodies, Security Officers and Law Enforcement, said that employees of disciplinary bodies, who are not soldiers, deserve sustainable financial compensation for their work. “An additional increase to the one already achieved three years ago will further strengthen the financial package of our Soldiers,” he said. In 2023 and 2024, compensation for additional service will increase by approximately 17%,” reiterated Mr. Vella.
Also present at the signing were the General Secretary of the General Workers Union and the Head of the Industrial Relations Department in the Prime Minister’s Office, Thomas Woods.
