Skip to main content
Department of Finance Department of Finance An Roinn Airgeadais

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • NICS Pay Award to be implemented

    Date published: 7 May 2020

    The Department of Finance has announced implementation of the 2019 Pay Award for NICS staff which is effective from 1 August 2019.

    The retrospective pay award provides a two percent increase on pay scales.

    A formal offer which was agreed by the Executive and is in line with the 2019 Public Sector Pay Policy was made to recognised trades unions on 18 March 2020. Some Trades Unions’ ability to properly and fully consult their members has been hampered by the COVID-19 crisis.

    Given the exceptional circumstances the Finance Minister has made the decision to proceed to implement the pay offer made.

    In parallel there is a need to progress public sector reform. This will include more agile working practices, new approaches to recruitment and selection for jobs in the Civil Service, improvement to management of sickness absence in the NICS, with a particular focus on mental health, expansion of the NICS diversity and inclusion programme, and completion of the harmonisation of terms and conditions between industrial and non-industrial staff.

    The 2019 Pay Award will cost £23.5m, including contractual progression up pay scales for eligible staff, and will be funded from within existing departmental budgets.

    Notes to editors:

    1. The 2019 Public Sector Pay Policy can be viewed on our website.
    2. Further details on the 2019 Pay Award including pay scales can be viewed on our website. 
    3. All media enquiries to the Department of Finance Press Office on 028 9081 6724. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110 and your call will be returned.
    4. Follow us on Twitter @dptfinance

    Latest news

    • Executive agrees £273 million investment in public services

      9 December 2025

    • O’Dowd - Have your say and help shape future of Small Business Rate Relief

      4 December 2025

    • Maintaining access to cash vital to local communities – O’Dowd

      3 December 2025

    • O’Dowd welcomes passing of Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill

      2 December 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens