Wage indexation in Belgium in 2026 came in waves. Most white-collar committees indexed on 1 January 2026, joint committee (JC) 200 by 2.21%. Metalworking followed on 1 July 2026 with 2.81%. On top of that, the cents index has applied since 1 June 2026, and the wage norm allows no extra rise.
Wage indexation in 2026: when and how much per sector?
Each joint committee has its own indexation system. Some index once a year, others every quarter or each time a pivot index is reached. For our clients' committees:
| Joint committee | Date | Indexation |
|---|---|---|
| 200 auxiliary committee for white-collar staff | 1 January 2026 | 2.21% |
| 226 transport white-collar staff | 1 January 2026 | 2.23% |
| 140.03 road haulage | 1 January 2026 | 2.18% |
| 302 hospitality | 1 January 2026 | 2.19% |
| 119 food trade | 1 January 2026 | 2.21% |
| 149.01 electricians | 1 January 2026 | 2.23% |
| 118 food industry | 1 January 2026 | 2.19% |
| 112 garages | 1 February 2026 | 2.04% |
| 201 independent retail | 1 May 2026 | 2% |
| 202.01 medium-sized food businesses | 1 May 2026 | 2% |
| 314 hairdressing and beauty | 1 June 2026 | 2% |
| 111 metalworking, blue-collar | 1 July 2026 | 2.81% |
| 209 metalworking, white-collar | 1 July 2026 | 2.81% |
| 121 cleaning | January and July | 0.56% and 2.07% |
| 202 food retail, white-collar | January, April and July | 1%, 1% and 1% |
| 124 construction | every quarter | 0.22% in January, 0.87% in April, 1.10% in July, 0.83% in October |
In most committees the index applies to both minimum wages and actual wages: if you pay above the scale, that higher wage rises by the same percentage. Construction is the exception. There the sector only indexes minimum wages, and according to the union's sector bulletin a higher hourly wage gets the same amount per hour as the minimum for its category.
Worked example. A JC 200 employee earned € 3,000 gross a month at the end of 2025. On 1 January 2026 that rose by 2.21%: 3,000 x 1.0221 = € 3,066.30.
The July 2026 wage indexation: metalworking, cleaning, construction and food
July was this year's second big indexation month. Metalworking, blue-collar staff in JC 111 and white-collar staff in JC 209, received 2.81%. Cleaning indexed by 2.07%, after a small step of 0.56% in January. Construction added 1.10%, followed by 0.83% on 1 October 2026. Food retail in JC 202 took its third 1% step of the year on 1 July 2026.
For these sectors, July was the first indexation after the cents index started. Our guides to joint committee 111, joint committee 209 and joint committee 124 explain what that means for the pay scales.
What does the exceeded pivot index mean?
In June the smoothed health index reached 100.37 points, above the pivot index of 100.28. As a result, social benefits and public sector salaries rise by 2%, but since the programme law of 18 July 2025 only from the third month after the crossing: 1 September 2026.
In the private sector, each committee's indexation system decides. Committees with a fixed date, such as JC 200, ignore the pivot index. Committees with their own pivot index only follow once their threshold is reached. JC 201 indexed on 1 May 2026, before the June crossing. The next pivot index for benefits and public-sector pay is 102.29 points. In September the smoothed index stood at 101.20.
The cents index comes on top
Since 1 June 2026, for a full-time reference wage above € 4,000 a month, the first 2% of indexation is only calculated on € 4,000. After that the full wage is indexed again. Meanwhile you pay a special wage moderation contribution to the NSSO. The rules, a worked example and the date per sector are in our piece on the cents index.
The 2026 salary indexation and your 2027 budget
The wage norm for 2025 and 2026 is 0%. Outside indexation there is no room for sector pay rises. The next annual indexation in JC 200 and the other January committees falls on 1 January 2027. The percentage will only be known in January, but inflation based on the health index stood at 4% in September, and headline inflation at 4.69%. So don't budget with this year's percentage.
Here is how to estimate the cost of each percentage point of indexation for the employee above:
- One percent of € 3,066.30 is € 30.66 a month.
- Over a year, count 13.92 monthly salaries including year-end bonus and double holiday pay: € 426.79.
- Add 25% employer contributions on thirteen months: € 99.65.
- In total, each percentage point of indexation costs you about € 526 a year for this employee.
What Business Centrum does for you
Business Centrum applies every sector index on time in your payroll administration, together with Acerta, even when the official database has not been updated yet. We calculate the cents index per employee and give you an estimate of your 2027 payroll cost per joint committee in December. For JC 200 white-collar staff, see our guide to joint committee 200.