Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I am pleased to announce that I have agreed to fund and implement a pay uplift for our lowest paid staff in NHS Wales who are employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions of service. My decision will bring their pay in line with the Living Wage Foundation’s independent recommended rate of £9.50 per hour, from 1st April 2021. This ensures that NHS Wales will continue to be a real Living Wage employer.
This decision ensures that all NHS Wales employers remain Living Wage employers and further demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to the tackling poverty agenda; we recognise that low pay is a significant problem for many families in Wales and the challenges of in-work poverty unfortunately remain.
This has been announced as an interim measure while Welsh Government awaits the recommendations from the independent NHS Pay Review Body who are expected to announce their recommendations in early summer. Welsh Government will continue to work in partnership with our NHS union and employer colleagues to implement a fair and affordable pay rise for NHS staff in Wales through the independent process.