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Labour slams €12,000 salary increase for Judiciary
Labour’s parliamentary group has slammed the announced increases in salaries and uncapped pensions for the judiciary, branding them as “insensitive” at a time of economic crisis.
30 September 2012, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
We see the increases which come into effect as from tomorrow - at the start of a new forensic year - as insensitive, Labour MP Jose Herrera said
Speaking to MaltaToday, Labour's shadow minister for justice Josè Herrera says that Labour is set to embark on a major overhaul of the Maltese justice system, in a bid to make it more efficient and reflects today's realities.
Revealing Labour's parliamentary group's latest discussion on the announced increases in salaries and pensions for members of the judiciary, Josè Herrera said they were "out of synch" with reality in the wake of the recent uproar over ministerial and MP's pay rises.
He said that although Labour recognised the need for a 'just' financial package for the judiciary, the announced increases came at a time where many people are being asked to make sacrifices.
"We see the increases which come into effect as from tomorrow - at the start of a new forensic year - as insensitive," the MP said, adding that Labour would have preferred to have the increases linked to a holistic reform of the entire judicial system.
He stressed that while Labour is in agreement to raising the retirement age for judges from 65 to 68, "the financial package lacked style and sensitivity" at its timing.
As of tomorrow, judges and magistrates are set to receive uncapped pensions similar to retirement arrangements for parliamentarians.
This means retired judges and magistrates will receive two-thirds of their actual salary, while other pensioners receive two-thirds of an established threshold, set at a maximum of €21,000. This change, will also apply to retired judges and magistrates.
The new pay package will see all members of the judiciary receive a €12,000 raise, staggered over three years, which means that, by 2015, a judge will be receiving a total package of about €62,500 while a magistrate will get just under €57,000.
READ FULL INTERVIEW WITH LABOUR'S SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE JOSE HERRERA IN TODAY'S EDITION OF MALTATODAY ON SUNDAY
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Ghal fejn ghandhom jiehdu dawn iz zidiet fenominali meta hemm partita kawzi lura anki li jmorru ghal snin twal
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So Mr Herrera, as you put it, all members of the judiciary is to receive a €12,000 raise where as the general public have to face an increase on the price of bread, an increase in the price of diesel fuel and so far an increase in the price of propane gas. And to think that these judges and magistrates are driven every place they go. Not fair is it? But then very few things are fair in this world. And some people have the audacity to say that we are all created equal? I tend to argue that point. If so Mr Herrera, How come I cannot evict my tenants from a house that was requisitioned (confiscated) from my father 38 years ago by the government? Equality?
Luke Camilleri •
No BIG wonder the PN take everyone to court with "legal " pay offs : )
