public sector pay Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
Brazil’s public sector reform bill advances through congress
A bill that aims to shrink the state by cutting public sector pay and benefits has passed the committee stage in Brazil’s lower chamber of congress. The constitutional amendment – part of the government’s wider reform plan – seeks to impose austerity measures on public servants’ payrolls, as well as tighten job performance criteria and…
UK government accused of ‘civil service bashing’ in remote working row
A UK civil service union accused some government ministers of indulging in “civil service bashing” while another warned of industrial action, after a war of words was sparked this week about civil servants’ return to the office. The flurry of stories in the UK media began when an unnamed senior government minister told the Daily Mail newspaper that civil servants should lose pay if they remained working from home. “If people aren’t going into work, they don’t deserve the…
UK civil service data shows gaping gender pension gap, says auditor
There is 47% gender pay gap in pensions in the UK civil service, according to analysis published by government spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) today. The report, Public Service Pensions, analysed data from the past two decades across the four largest pay-as-you-go pension schemes (the NHS, civil service, armed forces and teachers) to…
UK abandons redundancy cap following legal challenges
The UK government has repealed new regulations that limited exit payments for departing public sector staff to £95,000 (US$132,000), after its policy was challenged in the courts by unions and staff representative bodies. Last November, the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 introduced a limit on redundancy and early retirement payments. But late…
Irish government commission calls for new pay review body
Ireland’s Public Service Pay Commission has called for the re-establishment of a dedicated review body to examine pay in the civil and public service, after a government report found that pay caps that apply to top-level staff are leading to staff shortages. The commission was responding to a report by the Department of Expenditure and…
Canadian Senate committee calls for Phoenix error resolution targets
More should be done to support civil service employees who are waiting to have their pay problems resolved following the troubled rollout of the Phoenix pay system, a Senate report has recommended. Around half of Canada’s 300,000 government workers have encountered at least one problem with their pay since 2016, when the new system was…
Scotland’s civil servants offered 4% pay rise
The Scottish Government has offered its civil servants an inflation-busting pay rise for 2018-19 that is worth at least 4% for the vast majority of staff. Scotland’s civil service unions, which are balloting their members on the offer, have hailed it as a “clear break from the austerity agenda”, a triumph for collective bargaining, and…
Germany’s public sector wins 7.5% rise over 30 months
German unions and employers agreed last week to boost the pay of more than two million public sector workers by some 7.5% over 30 months. Under the deal, employees will have their wages increased in phases, starting with a 3.19% pay hike backdated to 1 March. They will receive a second increase of 3.09% on…
public sector pay Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
public sector pay Webinars
public sector pay Research
Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
public sector pay Training Courses
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the public sector pay Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
