For 2025-2026, the wage standard remains at 0%

To maintain the competitiveness of Belgian companies, the social partners (or, in the absence of an agreement, the government) set the wage standard every two years.

This determines the maximum margin for increasing the average wage cost per worker. For the period 2025-2026, the government has set this margin at 0%. As a result, no increase in wage costs is permitted, except for indexation and sale increases. Companies must incorporate this constraint into their wage policy and negociations.

Context

The Act of July 26, 1996, on promoting employment and preventing a loss of competitiveness requires a biennial wage standard to be set.

This standard aims to prevent wage costs in Belgium from rising faster than in neighboring countries (France, the Netherlands, Germany).

In its technical report of February 19, 2025, the Central Council of the Economy determined that the maximum margin available for wage cost increases for the period 2025-2026 is 0%.

In the absence of an interprofessional agreement between the social partners, the federal government has therefore set the wage standard.

The Royal Decree of September 12, 2025

The royal decree sets the maximum margin for wage cost increases at 0% for the period 2025-2026.

In concrete terms:

•      The government does not authorize any real wage increases beyond automatic indexation mechanisms and scale increases;

•     The standard applies to employers in the private sector and to autonomous public enterprises;

•     The standard is effective immediately, as of September 22, 2025.

•     Employers are required to comply with this margin when setting remuneration. Failure to comply may result in administrative penalties, with fines ranging from €250 to €5,000 per worker concerned, capped at 100 workers.

The standard does not mean that employers have no room for maneuver. Certain mechanisms are not taken into account in the wage standard, such as profit-sharing bonuses, one-off innovation bonuses, etc.

Employers who have granted benefits to workers during the previous two years may maintain them for the period 2025-2026 (where applicable, in the form of an equivalent alternative but without an increase).

Takeaway 

For the years 2025-2026, the maximum margin for wage cost increases is 0%, with the exception of indexation and scale increases. For this period, companies cannot therefore plan for any real wage increases. However, in addition to the above-mentioned exceptions, certain mechanisms do not apply. This is the case, for example, with profit-sharing bonuses.

Source: Royal Decree of September 12, 2025 implementing Article 7, § 1er ,of the Act of July 26, 1996 on the promotion of employment and the preventive safeguarding of competitiveness, M.B., September 22, 2025.