Police on beach patrol have been refused permission to wear an official police baseball cap and appropriate footwear instead of the normal police gear, leading the Malta Police Association to register a trade dispute.
The union has instructed officers on beach patrol duties on Saturday to wear the baseball cap and black shoes, regardless of whether or not they are union members.
Temperatures are expected to reach 28 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
In a statement, the association said that officers carrying out such patrols spend an average of eight hours on the beach and promenade.
Denying them the opportunity to do that outdoor work while wearing a cap meant denying them the possibility of doing their job in comfortable and safe police-issued gear.
The union said the well-being of its members was its priority.