Belgium Witnesses Minimum Wage Surge, Surpasses €2,000 per month

The minimum wage in Belgium has increased on April 1, reaching €2,029.88 (US$2205.17) per month and marking an increase of €35.70 (US$38.78), as announced by the country’s Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue and reported by Euronews.

This rise places Belgium among the top five European Union (EU) member states, out of the 22 in the bloc, where the minimum wage exceeds €2,000 (US$2172.71), as per Eurostat data. 

The adjustment impacts approximately 80,000 individuals with low incomes with another increase of the same amount slated for 2026. 

Concurrently, a tax employment bonus increase, that took place on the same date, will result in higher net salaries for workers, potentially raising them by around €50 (US$54.32) monthly.

Additionally, as of April 1, public sector worker salaries will be indexed by 2% to match inflation rates.

Additional Information:

• The basic minimum wage in Belgium typically covers all workers aged 18 and up, unless they fall under a different minimum wage for their particular industry.
• Belgium’s minimum wage for full-time employees has seen a growth of around €400 (US$434.54) over the past four years, escalating from €1,593.81 (US$1731.44) in 2019 to €1,994.18 (US$2166.39) in December 2023.
• Across the EU, hourly labour costs varied from €9 (US$9.78) to €54 (US$58.66) in 2023, averaging €31.80 (US$34.55).
• Belgium’s labour costs rank among the highest in the EU, placing third among member countries.
• The least expensive hourly labour was in Bulgaria at €9.30 (US$10.10) in 2023, followed by Romania at €11 (US$11.95), and Hungary at €12.80 (US$13.91). 
• Conversely, Luxembourg and Denmark had higher costs, with hourly rates averaging €53.90 (US$58.55) and €48.10 (US$52.25), respectively.