DELEGATES IN the Jamaica Police Federation (JPF) yesterday voted and agreed to a new compensation package from Government.

This means members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force will be compensated for extra hours on the job.

The agreement comes three weeks after the delegates rejected the first offer - a 15 per cent increase in the first year and seven per cent in the second year.

At the time, chairman of the JPF, Corporal Raymond Wilson, told The Gleaner that "the money being offered by the Government is grossly insufficient".

40-hour work week

The chairman declined to comment on details of the latest offer, but said the Government has agreed to the 40-hour work week as a condition of working for police-officers.

"Police officers work an average of 70 hours per week, without any recognition for the extra 30 hours," Wilson said.

After the agreement is signed off by both parties and the 40-hour work week takes effect, police officers who work overtime will take home a bigger salary.

Wilson said he would contact government officials over the next three days to notify them that his delegates have agreed to the package which will cover the period April 2008 to March 2010.