Pay rises for Northern Ireland public sector staff outside the Health Service will be capped at one per cent in the coming financial year, Executive Ministers have announced.
An increase for Health Service staff will be influenced by recommendations of the independent pay review bodies.
Making the announcement, Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy (pictured) said the pay policy was being set in the midst of a “standstill budget from Westminster”.
“The British Government’s proposal of a one per cent award for health workers and a pay freeze for other public sector workers is disappointing. The Executive has decided on a different approach,” Mr Murphy said.
‘This pay policy will enable up to one per cent awards where this is affordable and where there is a commitment to reform and efficiency initiatives,” he said.
Mr Murphy said this would pave the way for discussions between employers and trade unions; health Service staff would not be subject to the one per cent limit.
Public sector pay is largely a devolved issue; in England, the Government has faced a backlash after it proposed a one per cent pay rise for National Health Service staff with most other public sector staff having their pay frozen.
In January, the Scottish Government announced a three per cent rise for public sector workers earning under £25,000 ($A45,000), with one per cent for people earning up to £80,000 ($A144,200) a year.
Belfast, 17 March 2021
