Half a million workers to get automatic pay rise in January

The salaries of half a million Belgian employees will rise by 1.49% in 2024 as a result of automatic indexation - in a sign that the double-digit percentage rises enjoyed by many workers last year are a thing of the past.

The pay rise, linked to the cost of living, is automatic for workers in the 200 joint committee, a collective bargaining arrangement which represents around half a million employees, according to HR services provider SD Worx. An exact figure will not be known until the end of this year.

“According to forecasts, the increase in wages for CP 200 workers will be 1.49%,” said Jean-Luc Vannieuwenhuyse, a legal expert at SD Worx.

“We are therefore seeing a return to normal compared with last year's high indexation.”

In January, employee salaries rose by 11.08% due to record inflation. While inflation fell back to 0.36% in October, its lowest level since January 2021, the central index was exceeded this month for the first time since November 2022.

“This means that social benefits and wages for workers in a number of social sector companies, such as hospitals, childcare, rehabilitation centres, home care and adapted work companies, will rise by 2% in November,” said Vannieuwenhuyse.

“Flexi-jobbers will also be affected by the fact that the central index has been exceeded, and will therefore be indexed in November.”