The government is to give 900,000 public sector workers in the UK a 2%-3.1% pay rise to recognise them for their efforts during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
The government will increase the salary of teachers by 3.1% and doctors by 2.8%, while police, prison officers and national crime agency staff will receive a 2.5% increase in pay. Additionally, the armed forces, judiciary, senior civil workers and senior military will receive a 2% pay rise.
Armed forces, prison officers, senior civil servants and NHS employees will see their pay backdated to April 2020. The pay rise for police staff and teachers will come into effect in September 2020.
NHS employees will receive this pay increase in addition to a three-year pay agreement made with Agenda for Change, which has so far seen pay for qualified nurses increase by 12% since April 2017.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “These past months have underlined what we always knew, that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them.
“It’s right therefore that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises.”
Matt Hancock, health secretary, added: “These past few months have been an incredibly challenging time for our NHS, and the resolve, professionalism and dedication of staff have been on show throughout.
“We are able to accept the recommendations of the independent pay review body for dentists and doctors.”
