Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Passing-out parade for 173 police officers at the Jamaica Police Academy, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, on June 28, 2006. The JCF is currently faced with a serious manpower shortage problem. - File

Rank-and-file cops are confident they will see the implementation of a 40-hour work week early next financial year.

"It was a commitment that the current Government gave (during the election campaign) ... We are working towards a full implementation in April 2008," says Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) human resource director, Robert Rainford.

During the run-up to the September 3 general election, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) expressed support for the police's long-sought-after 40-hour week, but the party acknowledged that the force's cadre would have to be increased from its current strength of about 8,400 before reducing the work week for the average cop to 40 hours.

Increase in strength

Under the current three-year strategic modernisation plan, the JCF should see an increase in strength to 12,000 by next year.

But the police are not convinced the current size of the force should pose a problem to implementing the 40-hour work week. A pilot project to test the system was implemented this month and, according to Police Federation chairman, Corporal Raymond Wilson, the feedback is positive. The project has so far been implemented in the St. Andrew Central Division, St. Ann and the Mobile Reserve.

"We are getting feedback and it's still early days, but so far, what we are getting (is) it has begun to show us some of the things that need fixing; and we have already begun to implement whatever strategies are necessary," says Wilson.

Areas to be addressed

Among the areas that need to be addressed, he says, are some manpower issues that could result from instituting a 40-hour work week, financing the system, and proper management to ensure the new arrangement meets its objectives. But these matters, he says, can be dealt with before April 2008.

While declining to comment on whether the 40-hour work week would in fact be instituted by April, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Gilbert Scott, says the discussions were positive.

"We are in active discussions with the Police High Command and the Police Federation on the matter. The discussions are going very well, but I wouldn't want to make any further comment on any specificity at this time," he comments.