The Liberal Democrats would raise public sector workers' pay for two years from 2016, Nick Clegg has said.
Under the proposals, pay would go up in line with CPI inflation until 2017-18, before above-inflation rises in the following two years.
The deputy prime minister said public sector workers deserved to know there was "light at the end of the tunnel" following years of pressure on their wages since 2010.
Related articles
Public sector pay will be "restrained" in next Parliament, says Osborne
Civil servants join national strike over pay
SCS pay: David Cameron rejects call for £2,000 Pay Band 1 boost
"Despite being asked to make do with less, workers in the public sector have maintained the highest standards and shown great professionalism."
Public sector pay was frozen for two years after 2010, with subsequent payrises capped at 1%. At the latest Budget, chancellor George Osborne confirmed that all departments had now agreed to end time-served progression pay across the civil service.
The proposals, Mr Clegg said, would depend upon the Liberal Democrats "holding the balance of power" after the election.