Civil servants in Northern Ireland have been offered a 5 percent pay rise and a one-off £1,500 payment. This offer was made by Stormont Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald after workers took industrial action demanding equal pay across the UK.

In January, public sector workers, including civil servants, staged one of the largest strikes in recent Northern Irish history. The offer includes a 5 percent increase for most Civil Service pay scales, raising the lowest-paid staff’s wages to the voluntary Living Wage Foundation rates of £12 an hour or £23,177 annually a 10 percent increase.

It also includes performance-related progression and a £1,500 non-consolidated payment for staff eligible for the 2023 pay award. This offer comes after discussions with Civil Service trade unions.

These unions will now consult their members about the offer. After the restoration of devolved government earlier this month, Ms Archibald said her department aimed to act swiftly.

“Following meetings with recognised Civil Service unions last week, I am pleased to have been able to move quickly to make this pay offer for civil servants which recognises their role in the delivery of public services,” she said.

“Civil servants, like other public servants, have been waiting some time for their 2023 pay award against the context of a cost-of-living crisis and pressures on their own household budgets.”

“I hope staff will look favourably on the offer and that unions’ consultation with their members will proceed as swiftly as possible so we can get pay to staff as soon as practicable.”

“Our public sector workers are at the heart of service delivery. We have a challenging journey of enhancing services in the time ahead for which we will need the expertise of our staff.”