Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

Department of Finance - 2023 Civil Service Pay Award

Download this statement as a PDF (60.37 kb)

Published at 11:30 am on Monday 22 April 2024.

Dr Archibald (The Minister of Finance): I wish to update the Members of the implementation of the 2023 Civil Service pay award.

During a debate on public sector pay on 4 March 2024 I undertook to update Members once negotiations around Civil Service pay were concluded.  I am informing the Assembly of the update by written statement to provide Members with the earliest possible notification of the position agreed. 

Offers were made to the recognised Civil Service trade unions on 26 February.  The non-industrial unions, NIPSA and the FDA, accepted the offer on 15 and 19 March respectively.  The industrial unions, GMB and Unite, indicated their acceptance of the offer on 16 April.

The overall award across the Civil Service, to both industrial and non-industrial staff groups, will see the majority of staff receive a 5% consolidated increase plus a one-off £1,500 non-consolidated payment. The award includes progression for those eligible for it. 

I remain committed to the Civil Service being a Living Wage employer.  While the Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage rate was implemented in April pay for our lowest paid staff, I have also ensured that this new rate equivalent to £12 an hour will also be backdated to 1 August 2023, when the civil service pay award fell due.

Payment of the 2023 awards will be made to industrial staff in May and non-industrial staff in June.

I am pleased that this pay offer has been accepted by all recognised civil service unions.  I want to ensure we build on this by making a start to negotiate 2024 pay for the Civil Service as soon as possible after the 2024/25 budget and public sector pay policy is set.