Wage agreement for 2023-2024: what does it entail?

Since companies have too little margin for structural wage increases, the government has decided that wages will not increase above the index.

Companies that have performed well in 2022 will be able to reward their employees with a once-off bonus of up to €500. This 'purchasing power premium' can be increased to €750 in companies that made exceptional profits.

The government proposes an equivalent method to the corona premium, namely a premium in the form of consumption vouchers. Employers and employee representatives at sector and/or company level must further elaborate the terms and conditions of the allocation of this premium.

This proposal is in addition to the automatic index adjustment your sector provides.

The government envisages a limited increase in the national GMMMI (Guaranteed Average Minimum Monthly Income), on top of the agreements made on this in the inter-professional agreement for the period 2021-2022.

It is now up to the social partners at a national level (the Group of 10) to develop this proposal further. If the proposal is approved, you will probably also have to wait for your sector before you can get started working yourself.

Negotiations between social partners on other dossiers

In addition to the minimum wage dossier, other dossiers such as a possible extension of the voluntary recovery overtime system and the end-of-career schemes will also end up on the table of the social partners. Again, this will probably include appointments that your sector needs to work on first. Acerta will keep you informed.