THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday denied a newspaper report that the party was not in support of a 40-hour work week for the police, as it moved to stave off a conflict with the Jamaica Police Federation.

According to the JLP, the party would honour any agreement made between the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) administration and the police towards the implementation of the work week scheme.

“The party reaffirms the commitment given to the federation, through spokesman on national security Derrick Smith, that the JLP fully supports a reduction of the work week to 40 hours for policemen and women,” the JLP statement said.

At the same time, JLP spokesman for information Dwight Nelson told the Observer that at no point during Tuesday’s meeting with the Gleaner did any JLP representative say that the party was against the 40-hour work week for the police.

“We actually said that for a 40-hour work week to be effective the numbers of policemen would have to be significantly increased. and Shirley Williams (JLP spokesperson for commerce and investment promotion) actually said that the productivity has to be increased and we acknowledged that due to lack of resources there is questionable productivity. Now, how anybody could take that to write a headline saying there would be no 40-hour work week under the JLP is beyond us,” Nelson said.

“We never said any such thing, so that is clearly a mischievous headline,” Nelson added.

Meanwhile, the federation yesterday expressed concern that any possible agreement between themselves and the present administration could be jeopardised should the JLP form the government after the August 27 general elections.

The federation said, however, that it would continue to lobby for the introduction and implementation of the 40-hour work week.