Q: - Is the Malta Police Association authorized to negotiate with the Government regarding Collective Agreements?

A: - Yes the Malta Police Association is directly involved in the Police Negotiating Board. The following is the extract from the Police Act Chapter 164 concerning the Police Negotiating Board.

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Q: - If during discussion at the Police Negotiation Boar no agreement is reached does the Malta Police Association have the right for Arbitration?

A: - Yes the Malta Police Association as follows.

Arbitration : In the case of such request being made the Prime Minister shall appoint three independent arbitrators who shall draw up a report to the Prime Minister on the matter referred to in article 22(2) of Chapter 164 and the said report shall be submitted by the Prime Minister to the Cabinet for its consideration.In all cases envisaged in this article, the decision of the Cabinet shall be final, whether the matter is referred to arbitration or not.

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Q. What is the function of the Police Board?

A: - The function of this Police Board is described in Chapter 164 Police .

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Q: - How could I contact the Executive Committee members regarding any complaints?

A: - MPA office at Police Associations Complex at Menqa ,Marsa , from 0800 hrs till 1700 hours to give service or offer assistants to members. You can also send an E-Mail with your request.

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Q:- What are the normal working hours per week of a Police Officer?

A:- Though the established working hours are 46 per week, the norms are more often than not exceeded.

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Q:- When are Police Officers entitled to be paid overtime?

A:- As a reply, GHQ Circular 63/93 which was issued after the 'New Salaries and Conditions of Service for the Police Force' was signed in June 1993 is being quoted.

3.5. OVERTIME

3.5.1. At present, members of the Police Force are paid for overtime work performed beyond seven hours in any one month and time off in lieu is also being utilised whenever practicable.

3.5.2. Now that the LM10 monthly allowance payable across the board to all members of the Police Force is being abolished, payment of overtime at 1.5 times the rate of pay will be made for any hours worked in excess of forty-six (46) hours per week, when time off in lieu cannot be given.

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Q:- What are the conditions for the payment of overtime?

A:- The conditions are mentioned in the management code sec 3.2.2. as follows ;

3.2.2.1. Where considerable overtime is required to be performed,staff in grades whose maximum salary does not exceed that of Senior Principal may be allowed overtime pay, subject to the conditions at paragraph 3.2.1.3, and provided that:

(a) compensatory time-off within a period of four weeks cannot be allowed;

(b) overtime attendances not exceeding half an hour are on no account to be paid for. Attendances of longer duration are invariably subject to the deduction of each first half hour, provided that if, during a period of four weeks, overtime attendance exceeds 10 hours in winter and 8 hours in summer, payment is to be made in full in respect of each attendance, including the first half hour. In calculating the qualifying limit of 10 hours in winter and 8 hours in summer, account is also taken of attendance not exceeding half an hour; and

(c) overtime pay claimed is to be accompanied by a certified extract of the attendance book.

EST 1955