They have received rises of between 4.5% and 9.3%, but unions say most of the pay rises are not enough as they are less than half of current RPI inflation. As those working in the public sector receive money from taxpayers, the amount they are paid is determined by their overall employer – the government. Politics Hub: Rishi Sunak unlikely to win against remaining candidates, poll shows However, there is a long process to determine their pay before ministers ever see a figure. How are public sector wage increases determined? They pay for the control bodies Independent pay review bodies play an integral role in informing the government’s final decision on how around 45% of the public sector – including teachers, nurses, doctors, police and members of the armed forces – are paid. They are made up of experts in their field and their appointments are made on the basis of merit rather than political beliefs. The process begins when the Secretary of State for the relevant sector requests recommendations on workers’ pay from the pay review bodies. They will set a timeline and parameters such as asking agencies to consider issues such as affordability, retention, recruitment and the state of the entire labor market. Departments’ expenditure on fees is limited by the amount of funding they receive from the Treasury. Also read: Doctors demand 30% pay hike as some doctors say they may have to strike Image: NHS doctors and nurses to be included in pay changes A range of sources, such as unions and their members, as well as employers, then submit evidence to pay review bodies, which usually visit staff in their sector to identify concerns and views. The government then also submits its formal offer of pay at this stage for all affected staff levels. After receiving all the evidence from the relevant groups, the pay review bodies then recommend what the pay level should be. What happens after recommendations are submitted? The government chooses when to respond to and publish reports submitted by wage review bodies. Deputy ministers usually respond to the recommendations by issuing a written ministerial statement to parliament. Overall, the recommendations are accepted by foreign ministers, but there have been times when they have overridden the recommendations. The industries may disagree with the wage changes and can strike the decision, but the government has the ultimate say. The most recent wage increases will likely be implemented in the fall, but could be pushed back as early as April, when the fiscal year began. Are there pay review bodies for all public sector jobs? No. The salaries of non-senior civil servants are determined by individual agencies, in accordance with the directives issued by the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance. Local government staff (not teachers) are determined by their employers and unions. The devolved governments – Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – set their own pay policy for the public bodies under their control.
