Companies sign up to pay deal despite doubt over its viability

A NUMBER of private sector companies have already signed up to the first phase of the new national wage agreement, even though the future of the deal still hangs in the balance.

The 21-month agreement sees workers in the private sector endure a three-month pay pause, followed by two increases of 3.5% and 2.5%.

In the public sector the pay increases are prefaced by an 11-month pay pause.