Are the Pay Review Bodies Fit for Purpose in 2023?

With the cost-of-living rising at over 10 per cent per annum for much of 2022 the Government steadfastly wants to limit wage rises of public-sector workers to around 4 per cent. What are the arguments in this debate? Why is the Government trying to limit these pay rises? What is the role of the Pay Review Bodies (PRB) in this process and how might they be appraised?

In the light of the cost-of-living crisis, is there a case for reviewing what the PRBs do and how the government uses them? This box reviews brief answers to these questions.