First Minister announces public sector pay rises

First Minister Eluned Morgan has today announced above-inflation pay awards for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers in Wales.

NHS staff, teachers and public sector workers in many devolved services will receive pay rises of between 5% and 6% in 2024-25.

The announcement comes as the Welsh Government has accepted the pay recommendations from independent pay review bodies in full:

• Teachers will receive a 5.5% pay award.

• NHS staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions will receive a 5.5% pay award.

• Doctors and dentists, including GPs and salaried GPs, will receive a 6% pay award, with an additional £1,000 for junior doctors.

The Welsh Government has also agreed up to an average 5% pay award for civil servants and for staff at a number of other public bodies, including Natural Resources Wales and the Development Bank of Wales. 

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“People across Wales have told us over the summer that public sector workers are the backbone of the services we all rely on – from the nurses in our NHS to teachers in classrooms across Wales.

"They want them to be fairly rewarded for the vital work they do. These pay awards reflect how we value them and respect their hard work.

“But the public has also been clear they want to see improvements in public services – especially in the NHS and education. We will work with these services to deliver on what people have told us over the summer listening exercise.”

Cabinet Secretary for Finance Rebecca Evans said:

“We greatly value the hundreds of thousands of people working across the public sector in Wales and the work they do every day. We have worked hard to be able to make this offer. 

“We are committed to working in social partnership with trade unions to achieve fair pay settlements which are affordable while also recognising the huge contribution made by public sector workers."

Independent pay review bodies make recommendations to governments about pay. Other parts of the public sector in Wales, including local government staff, fire and rescue services and social care, are not covered by the independent pay review bodies and are negotiated through a separate process.

Notes to editors

• A four-week consultation will now start on teachers' pay. The 5.5% award for teachers is in line with the English award and is higher than the Welsh PRB because of the no detriment principle.
• There is a well-established approach in considering teachers' pay awards in Wales that works on the principle of no detriment to Welsh teachers of any decision made by the UK Government. 
• For this reason, pay offers in Wales are determined by this principle to be at least at the level of those in England.
• As in previous years the Welsh Government is committed fully to supporting parity of pay for those teachers working in our further education settings subject to the outcome of joint pay negotiations between the sector and their recognised trade unions.