Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531608
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JANUARY 2025 THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION On November 29, 2024, the Mal- tese government and ten trade unions signed a landmark Public Service Collective Agreement for the period 2025-2030, through which 33,000 Public Service em- ployees such as nurses, teachers, police officers, and administration workers will be benefitting direct- ly from. The agreement is currently com- ing into force during this month, in a smooth transition ensuring that Public Service employ- ees benefit from its provisions through the first 2025 payroll! Negotiations on this Agreement were initiated by the Principal Per- manent Secretary on 6th March 2024 where he gave an overview of the current situation and his vision for a new public service collective agreement. The Public Administration was represented during the whole process by the Industrial Relations Unit (IRU) and the Permanent Secretary P&SD within the Office of the Prime Minister under whose remit falls the IRU. The 10 unions were repre- sented by the top two highest officials within each union. The collective agreement was con- cluded in a total of 11 full day meetings. These negotiations saw an in- crease in union representation fol- lowing the recognition awarded for disciplined forces within the Public Service employee and thus representatives increase from sev- en unions to ten unions, welcom- ing the Malta Police Union, Police Officers' Union – GWU and Union tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili Malta into this process. This agreement, effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2030, represents a significant in- vestment of €1.27 billion over the 6-year period, aimed at enhancing salaries and improving working conditions. The agreement emphasizes better work-life balance, quality of life, mental health considerations, and environmental sustainability. The Public Administration is commit- ting itself to training its employ- ees as Mental Health First Aiders, a move towards continuing to increase mental health awareness amongst its employees and also to continue to provide constant support through its Employee Support Programme Unit. Need- less to say, an emphasis on adopt- ing to the ever changing world of Information Technology is also a commitment of the parties. The new agreement emphasizes the importance of social dialogue and constant communication be- tween the employer and employ- ee representatives. This issue was discussed at length and the par- ties agree to a new mechanism to support stronger dialogue during the validity of the agreement. It has established a new mechanism to resolve potential disputes in an efficient and effective manner to foster a more harmonious work- ing environment. In a move to continue supporting employees to continue main- taining their quality of life even beyond their employment years, Public Administration has also committed to refund employees €250 per annum if they subscribe to a third pillar private pension. Such refund is over and above the current tax rebate for Third Pillar Pensions which was launched in November 2014. The Agreement incorporated within it substantial financial im- provements such as: • Salary Increases: The agree- ment stipulates an average annual wage increase, in- cluding allowances, of 3.85%. Notably, employees in the lowest salary scale (Scale 20) will see their basic salary rise to €1,200 above the national minimum wage, a substantial increase from the previous €500 margin. • Overtime Compensation: This has been a long stand- ing issue and the first steps to address this matter were carried out in the 2017-2024 agreement. The new collec- tive agreement now ensures that the matter is settled and employees above salary scale 10 will see improvements in their overtime payment. • Long-Service Bonus: A new long-service bonus will be introduced in 2026 for em- ployees who have more than 20 years active service with the Public Service. • Educational Incentives: As from January 2025 all employ- ees who are in possession of a Masters' Qualification or higher will become eligible to the qualification allowance irrespective of whether this was a pre-requisite to their entry post or not. Further- more, the qualification allow- ance will be increasing for all levels during the period of the agreement. Together with other schemes provided by the Public Administration this will encourage to encourage employees to take up high level of studies and invest in improving their knowledge and skills. • On Call Allowance: The current stand-by system has been redesigned to meet today's needs and demands in this respect. Employees per- forming such duties will see an increase in the compen- sation for such duties being carried out. This will help ensure that essential services will continue to be provided to the Citizens of Malta as needed. • Shift Allowance: Employees working on a roster and shift basis will see hefty increases in the weekly shift allowance to compensate for work dur- ing unsocial hours. The agreement was focused on a wide array of aspects with the ul- timate goal of improving services, bettering the working conditions of public service employees and motivating citizens to join the public service. 33,000 Public Service employees and their families to start benefitting from the new Collective Agreement This agreement, effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2030, represents a significant investment of €1.27 billion over the 6-year period, aimed at enhancing salaries and improving working conditions.