Unlike their colleagues in England, Public Servants in Northern Ireland are to receive a pay increase.
The 4.8 per cent rise will cost the Province’s Government £44 million ($A80.6 million) over two years.
In a statement, the Department of Finance said the decision struck a “difficult balance” and the increase was part of the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal that restored the power-sharing Government in January 2020.
The Northern Ireland Executive said it was committed to becoming a “living wage employer”.
Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy (pictured) said that in the context of a standstill Budget from Westminster, the pay award struck a difficult balance between recognising the hard work of staff while ensuring sufficient money was available for essential public services.
“The implementation of the pay award will help fulfil the NDNA commitment for the Civil Service to become a living wage employer,” Mr Murphy said.
“The pay award makes a number of improvements to the terms and conditions of Civil Servants, such as increasing paternity pay from two days to two full weeks’ pay,” he said.
“This will encourage staff to take time off work to bond with, and assist in the care of, their child in the important early days.”
Mr Murphy said the COVID-19 pandemic had presented challenges, but it had also presented opportunities in terms of new ways of working.
“It is important that we now look at reforms which help with the affordability of future pay awards whilst also improving the delivery of services,” he said.
Just over 23,000 people work in the Province’s Public Service.
Belfast, 6 June 2021
