The Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the Jamaica Police Federation concerning the payment of overtime since 2008.
Additionally, the finance ministry has been given until March next year to put in place a system that will track the actual hours police officers work. This system should indicate overtime hours for appropriate remuneration. The Jamaica Police Federation (JPF) is counting its ruling as a win. The JPF has had to sue the state and it agents because of “frustrations caused by the state’s failure to keep promises to pay monies to officers for overtime.”
Now the ruling is in. Constitutional Court Judge Justice David Batts announced that the government has 9 month to implement a new system to track police working hours. The ruling also states that the 5 heads of agreement entered into between the JPF and the ministry of finance from September 2008 to December 2018 are binding. Meaning those who qualify for overtime pay for that period should be compensated.
General Secretary for the JPF Arleen McBean says this milestone victory speaks to the tenacious nature of their members.
Reporter: Jhanielle Powell
