In order to make this sentiment a reality, the budget sets out the following multi-year pay policy framework:
Multi‑year pay envelope of 9% over 2025‑26, 2026‑27 and 2027‑28
Flexibility for employers to configure three‑year proposals within the 9% pay envelope
Expectation that pay deals will be agreed covering three years, 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28
Any employer that does not agree a three-year pay deal will be restricted to a maximum 3% pay uplift for 2025-26
The Scottish Government compare the 9% pay envelope to a forecast inflation of 7% across the same 3-year period, with 3% allocated for 2025-26.