From 1 April the minimum wage in Belgium will be raised to just over 2,000 euro/month for those in full-time employment. According to the trade unions, this will affect around 80,000 people that are on low incomes.
The Christian trade union ACV says that around 80,000 people that are on the minimum wage will benefit. From 1 April, their net monthly income will increase by around 50 euro in most cases.
The Federal Employment Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (Francophone socialist) told journalists that since the start of the current legislature those on the minimum wage have seen their net income increase by around 400 euro/month.
Mr Dermagne added that this represents a significant increase in the purchasing power of those in the lower income bracket. The increase in minimum wages quoted by the Employment Minister includes automatic index-linked increases. In Belgium wages are pegged to inflation.