Wage indexation in January 2026: What can we expect?

With 2026 gradually approaching and the new year about to start, wages are re-indexed. What does this mean for employers and employees? For over 500,000 white-collar workers employed in JC 200, the forecast wage indexation is 2.13%. This forecast is based on the latest figures from the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau.  

What is wage indexation?

Contrary to what some employees think, indexation is not a wage increase. Wages in Belgium are linked to inflation, reflecting the rising prices of specific services or products. The mechanism of automatic wage indexation keeps employees' salaries in line with the cost of living. Employees' wages are therefore adjusted and purchasing power is protected through this system. 

Fixed moment

Automatic wage indexation is regulated through sectoral collective labour agreements, so it does not occur at the same time for all employees. In JC 200, for example, that indexation happens at the same time every year, in January. 

Employees in certain other sectors also have their wages adjusted for inflation at the start of the year.

The forecast is based on the latest figures from the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau.  

• Employees in the food processing industry and freight transport on behalf of third parties can expect an indexation of 2.15%
• An indexation of 2.15% is expected for employees in the hospitality industry
• A forecast of 2.13% applies to employees in the food trade, building management and real estate agents.
• A forecast of 2.11% applies to employees in international trade.
• A forecast of 2.1086% applies to employees in the insurance sector.

Pivot index

Some employees’ wages are not adjusted until later. In certain sectors, indexation only occurs when inflation has increased by a specific, fixed percentage at a variable time, or when the so-called 'pivot' is reached. The Federal Planning Bureau expects the pivot index to be exceeded once in 2026, specifically in January. 

Based on this forecast, wages for employees in the social profit sector will increase either in February or March, depending on the system used.

For the salaries of civil servants and for people entitled to benefits, the adjustment due to indexation occurs only in the third month after the pivot index has been exceeded. According to the above forecast, those wages will rise in April 2026.

Sectoral bargaining 2025-2026

Sectoral bargaining will also start in autumn 2025.  Negotiators should take into account a wage margin of 0% beyond indexation. 

The announced increase in the ceiling for meal vouchers — from €8 to €10 as of 1 January 2026 — still requires legislation to implement it effectively without exceeding the prevailing wage margin. For now, this remains to be seen. We therefore recommend waiting for the sectoral agreement of your joint committee before taking concrete steps.

We will update this blog as soon as we have more information.