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4 April, 2001The IMF-affiliated CMB and CCMB have negotiated a package totalling 7.26 per cent.
BELGIUM: Collective bargaining for blue-collar workers in the Belgian metal construction industry was finalised at the end of March. The agreement, negotiated by the CMB and CCMB with Belgian employers in this sector, runs for 2001-2002.
Principal elements in the package deal, which totals 7.26% over the two years, include the following:
1. Salary increase (effective + minimum wages):
- BEF 5 per hour, effective as of May 1, 2001 (= 1.16% on the average wages per hour (BEF 430 per hour);
- BEF 3 per hour, effective as of April 1, 2002 (= 0.7% on the average wages per hour (BEF 430 per hour);
- 1% salary increase to be implemented as of January 1, 2002.
2. Compensation with respect to inflation, on top of the salary increase:
- estimated inflation rate of 2%, 2001;
- estimated inflation rate of 1.7%, 2002.
3. Improvement of the existing extra-legal pension scheme for the metallic construction sector (1%) by 0.5%, or 1.5% in total.
4. Improvement of holiday pay of 0.2%.
Also, in addition to the possibility to take paid leave of up to three years for "unspecified" reasons, with an allowance of a maximum BEF 20,000 per month, additional measures now offer the option of up to three years' paid leave for "specified" reasons, such as taking care of children or parents, reducing work pressure on workers over 50 years of age, and personal training. The maximum allowance in this case is BEF 27,000 per month.
NOTE: 45 Belgian francs (BEF) = US$1
Principal elements in the package deal, which totals 7.26% over the two years, include the following:
1. Salary increase (effective + minimum wages):
- BEF 5 per hour, effective as of May 1, 2001 (= 1.16% on the average wages per hour (BEF 430 per hour);
- BEF 3 per hour, effective as of April 1, 2002 (= 0.7% on the average wages per hour (BEF 430 per hour);
- 1% salary increase to be implemented as of January 1, 2002.
2. Compensation with respect to inflation, on top of the salary increase:
- estimated inflation rate of 2%, 2001;
- estimated inflation rate of 1.7%, 2002.
3. Improvement of the existing extra-legal pension scheme for the metallic construction sector (1%) by 0.5%, or 1.5% in total.
4. Improvement of holiday pay of 0.2%.
Also, in addition to the possibility to take paid leave of up to three years for "unspecified" reasons, with an allowance of a maximum BEF 20,000 per month, additional measures now offer the option of up to three years' paid leave for "specified" reasons, such as taking care of children or parents, reducing work pressure on workers over 50 years of age, and personal training. The maximum allowance in this case is BEF 27,000 per month.
NOTE: 45 Belgian francs (BEF) = US$1