Pensions Act vs Pensions Ordinance - Louis Cilia

Members of Parliament are entitled to a service pension in terms of Chapter 280 of the laws of Malta. On the other hand,  members of the Public Service, including the Malta Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Correctional Services and others, who were in employment in the Service up to the December 31, 1978 are entitled to a pension in terms of Chapter 93 of the laws of Malta under the Pensions Ordinance.

It is a reality that the conditions and benefits provided under the Members of Parliament Pensions Act are far more generous than those under the Pensions Ordinance.

Statistics show that the Treasury doles out over €2 million a year in special pensions to a relatively small group of retired Members of Parliament. Indeed, Chapter 280 provides for a ‘special’ pension to MPs over and above the ‘normal’ benefits to which all Maltese citizens (including, of course, our MPs) are entitled.  

The Members of Parliament Pensions Act states that only those MPs who served for two legislatures qualify for this special pension.

Earlier this month, the government decided to abandon its plans to extend these pension privileges to MPs who serve for just one legislature after the Opposition...