(Reuters) - The British government is set to lift, for police and prison officers, a 1 percent cap on public-sector pay increases, the BBC reported on Sunday.
Ministers are expected to accept recommendations for higher pay rises this week, paving the way for similar increases for other government employees, BBC said. (http://bbc.in/2vNPDnE)
The higher increases for police and prison officers are based on the recommendations of independent pay-review bodies, with recruitment and retention problems being cited in the case of prison officers, the BBC said.
Public-sector pay rises have been limited to 1 percent a year since 2013, but British media said Prime Minister Theresa has been under increasing pressure from ministers and lawmakers to end the below-inflation cap, which was part of a drive to reduce government spending.
May's Conservatives pledged before June's election to keep the pay cap, which affects 5 million public-sector workers, until 2020. But after losing her majority in that election, she has been urged by lawmakers to ease up on austerity policies.
A spokeswoman for the finance department declined to comment on the report.