If for workers in Luxembourg, in Belgium more than 500,000 employees in the private sector will see their salary increase by 3.58% in January 2025. A notable increase calculated by the HR service provider Acerta based on data from Statbel. This increase reflects a more marked indexation than in 2024 and constitutes the second largest in the last ten years, after the exceptional one of 2023 linked to the surge in energy prices (11.08%).
In Belgium, the salaries of employees of the Auxiliary Joint Commission for Employees (CP 200), which brings together the largest number of workers in the country, are adjusted each year to follow the evolution of inflation. After a modest indexation of 1.48% in 2024, the increase planned for 2025 reflects a rebound in the smoothed health index, a key indicator of changes in the cost of living.
The Legal & Reward expert at Acerta Consult, Catherine Langenaeken, emphasizes: “Automatic indexation is not perceived as a salary increase by workers, but it represents a significant and uncontrollable cost for employers. However, they can invest in well-being and sustainable careers to differentiate themselves.”
In addition to CP 200, other sectors will apply similar indexations at the start of 2025:
– Food industry, transport and hospitality: +3.57%
– Food trade and real estate agents: +3.58%
– Assurances: +3,58%
These adjustments reflect a national effort to maintain the purchasing power of workers in the face of continued price increases. The Planning Bureau anticipates that the pivotal index will be exceeded from January 2025, leading to an automatic increase in the salaries of civil servants, workers in the health care sector, and social benefits.
A job market under pressure
Only 43% of SMEs plan to hire in the first six months of 2025, a figure down slightly compared to 2024. 36% of companies plan staff reductions, a drop from previous levels, but still worrying. Political uncertainties linked to the formation of the new federal government and the expected reorganizations are weighing on business morale. Acerta labor market expert Annelies Baelus comments: “Companies are prioritizing the retention of existing employees rather than hiring new talent, a sign of a gradual cooling of the market.” As Belgium adjusts wages to maintain purchasing power in the face of inflation, businesses must contend with increasing costs and a climate of uncertainty.