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Unions representing public sector workers have welcomed above inflation pay rises, but criticised the Welsh Government for the length of time it took.

Including nurses, NHS staff and teachers will get a 5.5% rise, while doctors and dentists will receive 6%, all in line with English pay awards.

The Welsh Government has also agreed up to an average 5% pay award for civil servants and for staff at a number of other public bodies, including Natural Resources Wales and the Development Bank of Wales.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “People across Wales have told us over the summer that public sector workers are the backbone of the services we all rely on – from the nurses in our NHS to teachers in classrooms across Wales.

“They want them to be fairly rewarded for the vital work they do. These pay awards reflect how we value them and respect their hard work.

“But the public has also been clear they want to see improvements in public services – especially in the NHS and education. We will work with these services to deliver on what people have told us over the summer listening exercise.”

Recommended levels of pay for doctors and dentists is set by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, while the NHS Pay Review Body sets levels for other NHS staff.

The Independent Welsh Pay Review Body recommends pay levels for teachers.

The Welsh Government has now accepted these recommendations for the 2024/25 financial year, while pay for other public sector workers are negotiated through other mechanisms.

All pay deals will have to be agreed by members of workers’ respective unions.

While welcoming the deal for teachers, Nicola Fitzpatrick, Interim Wales Secretary of the National Education Union, said clarity is now needed on future pay awards.

She said: “An important issue they need to consider is how teacher pay is determined. The so-called independent Welsh pay review body is a failed process that has resulted in pay cuts over decades, contributing to a deepening recruitment and retention crisis.

“It was only the efforts of NEU members’ strike action in 2023, and who again voted in an indicative ballot this year – that changed the pay review body’s thinking on teacher pay.”

TUC Cymru General Secretary Shavanah Taj said: “Progress on public sector pay is strongly welcomed, as is the fact that these pay awards are above inflation and match what was offered by the UK Government to workers in England. We have stressed to government how important it is to avoid a delay like this in future.”