Indexation of salaries capped in 2026: Discover the impacts on your income
Part-time workers, forgotten by the mechanism?
However, part-time workers will indeed be impacted by this cap. “We have opted for a balanced solution that preserves purchasing power while strengthening the competitiveness of our businesses,” continued David Clarinval. “Regarding part-time work: the calculation will be based on a full-time equivalent. It is on this theoretical basis that we will determine if the cap is reached. The cap will therefore be applied fairly, prorated according to working time, following the same rules for everyone.”
A principle that does not sit well with the opposition, where it is estimated that this pro-rata calculation will hit part-time workers hard.
“You will remove their indexation from 2,000 gross,” stated PTB MP Robin Tonniau. “It’s a big government Christmas gift. But who are we talking about? Is it the broadest shoulders? Is it high incomes? No. It concerns Ingrid, who works part-time in the care sector. And who works part-time to take care of her family. Ingrid earns 2,690 euros per month. Is that really so high? But your theft of indexation will cost her 8,191 euros of purchasing power annually over her entire career. It’s a theft, not for one month, not for two months: it’s every month, throughout the career.”
Arizona accused of “amateurism” again
For PS MP Patrick Prévot, there is “amateurism” in this decision. “You make decisions at three in the morning, obviously well asleep, without knowing the concrete reality of the situation,” he said to Minister Clarinval, while stating that Arizona “does not like women: 80% of part-time positions are held by women. You also know this. And yet, you persist in slapping them once again with this unfair measure.”
And, presenting himself as a “Arizona hitman,” Patrick Prévot did not hesitate to paraphrase Michel Audiard: “We now know that the ministers of Arizona dare anything. It’s even that which allows us to recognize them…”
This cap, which will happen twice, will have a positive impact according to David Clarinval: “Half of the revenue from this cap will go to businesses, the other half to the National Social Security Office (ONSS), directly contributing to the financing and social security protection, without weakening workers’ rights,” he stated. “The government protects purchasing power, maintains automatic indexation as a mechanism for protection against inflation, and acts responsibly to ensure the competitiveness of Belgian companies, essential to support investment, create jobs and ensure strong social security in the medium and long term.”
Two visions, two atmospheres…
