BRUSSELS: The wage gap between Belgium and its three biggest neighbours, Germany, France and the Netherlands has been reduced to 2.9 percent in the past two years.
The following two years 2013–2014 saw a 25 percent drop to 2.9 percent, it turns out.
The improvement is due to the fact that wages in for example Germany saw a faster increase than in Belgium.
The so-called “wage handicap” (a term which refers to the fact that labour in Belgium is more expensive than in its neighbouring countries) is easing.
The wage gap between Belgium and Germany, France and Netherlands was calculated at 4 percent in the years 2011–2012.
The CRB report will be used as a basis for new talks between employers and trades unions.
That’s according to a report by the Central Council for Businesses (CRB).
It’s an old problem for employers: hiring people in Belgium is more expensive than in neighbouring countries due to a high labour tax and social contributions, among other things.
This is harming the competitiveness of the Belgian businesses, employers point out.
However, things are getting better.
Employers’ organisations have already warned trades unions that they shouldn’t use this report to have the austerity measures eased.
“The government should continue its policies. The one-time skipping of the wage indexation system – under which employees are denied a pay rise despite life getting more expensive, red. – should go through.”
For the moment, Belgium is experiencing a negative inflation, which means that life in fact becoming cheaper.
