£30,000 by 2023, as ministers raise minimum pay in most of England by 16 per cent.
Nadhim Zahawi stated to major news outlets of a ‘global battle’ against rising costs that private sector workers are also ‘having to deal with’.
Inflation is running at 6.2 per cent on average in the 12 months to February – the fastest growth in 30 years – and the Bank of England thinks it could hit double digits this year.
Mr Zahawi said: ‘We’re facing a global battle against inflation and the private sector employees, which is about 80 plus per cent of the workforce, are having to deal with this as well. I think its incumbent on us in the public sector to also exercise restraint.’
Mr Zahawi’s comments yesterday came as a trade union warned the NHS is in danger of losing thousands of vital staff because of stiff competition for workers from high-street firms.
Unison said that without significant pay increases, 999 call handlers, healthcare assistants, medical secretaries and cleaners were being tempted to switch to the private sector.
Supermarkets, coffee shops and logistics firms are among those promoting wages higher than the lowest hourly rates in the NHS, according to Unison.
Drivers in particular can command higher rates of pay if they move to a private company, it was suggested.
Golden hellos worth £1,500, overtime supplements of an extra £2 an hour and staff discounts are among incentives being offered, it was revealed.
Unison warned that an exodus of NHS workers to the private sector would be ‘disastrous’ for the health service amid an ongoing staffing crisis.
