SNP Government policy decisions mean the starting salaries for staff in a range of public sector professions in Scotland are higher than in England, including:
• A newly-recruited teacher will earn £26,697 in Scotland, compared to £24,373 in England;
• A band 5 staff nurse will earn £24,670 in Scotland, compared to £24,214 in England;
• A new police recruit earns £26,037 in Scotland, compared to £20,880 – £24,177 in England.
The 2020-21 Public Sector Pay Policy published alongside the Budget includes a range of measures to further support the public sector workforce:
• A guaranteed 3% pay uplift for public sector workers earning up to £80,000;
• A cash uplift of £750 for public sector workers who earn £25,000 or less;
• Continuing the SNP Government’s commitment to the real Living Wage, now at £9.30 per hour;
• Limiting to £2,000 the basic pay increase for those earning £80,000 or more.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes MSP said:
“Fairness is at the heart of this year’s Budget and promoting the wellbeing of our public sector workers by protecting and increasing their pay is an important part of that.
“This pay policy responds to real-life circumstances, with measures to help tackle inequalities by protecting the salaries of lower-paid employees. Investing in our public sector workforce will also help deliver top-class public services while supporting jobs and the wider economy.
“I am grateful for the engagement Ministers have had with the trades unions and others and now hope Parliament will work with us to pass this Budget and reward our vital public sector workers.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“Guaranteeing a fair deal for the public sector workforce and protecting lower-paid workers is an important part of the Scottish Budget.
“While teaching, nursing, policing and other public sector careers are often a vocation, we must ensure that the remuneration of those who chose to go into these professions reflects the value of the work that they do.
“Public sector careers must appeal to attract a variety of talented people into them. The fact SNP Government proposed salaries are higher than elsewhere in the UK speaks volumes.”
Full details of the Scottish Budget 2020/21 can be found here.
Public Sector Pay Policy for 2020/21 can be viewed here.
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