UPDATED: Malta Police Association takes umbrage at MEA’s proposals on public sector pay cuts

Updated 1801 (with MEA reply)

The Malta Employers’ Association issued a statement to correct what it described a as a “deliberate and malicious attempts to distort its recommendations for additional measures which it made to Government about the Corona Virus.”

The Association said that sections of the media reported that it has recommended a cut in salary to public sector employees across the board. This is factually incorrect as what was stated in the media release clearly said that only the salaries of employees who are idle should be reduced, and not those of the entire public sector.

This misinformation was taken up by the Malta Police Association and Union Haddiema Maghqudin Voice of the Workers, who issued strong criticism to what has been wrongly reported. The MEA made it clear that it believes that the police are doing an excellent job under the circumstances, and no one is in any way recommending a paycut to the police. The same applies to many other segments within the public sector.

However, the Association stands by its principle that any employees who are idle, because there is no work available, cannot be privileged and expect a full pay including allowances for giving nothing in return.

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The Malta Police Association expressed its umbrage at a statement by the Malta Employers Association published earlier this week implying that incentives for businesses had to be financed through pay cuts in the public sector.

The MPA, through a statement of its own, today said that it agrees with the employers’ trade body that healthcare workers should be supported and incentivised throughout this challenging time. However it condemned the MEA’s request to consider salary cuts in the civil service. The MEA’s press statement had referred to pay cuts with regard to idle employees.

The MPA said that it cannot see why government employees should be singled it out to bear a bigger brunt in this crisis, and recalled that besides the healthcare professionals, many other civil employees are not only carrying out their normal duties in an impeccable manner but also going beyond their duties at this time of crisis.

Referring to the Police Corps, the statement referred to the current inspections to ensure that health authorities’ directives, related to social distancing and quarantines were being observed, and cited the number of fined being dished out as a proof of this activity.

The Union also highlighted the responsibility that other employees, such as those at the Armed Forces, Civil Protection, prison officials, detention services and many others, at this present time, at times with significant risk to themselves and their families.