Top earners saw largest pay rise

25 June 2007

BRUSSELS – The total salary earned by Belgians increased 3.4 percent in 2006. The largest increase went to top earners (up 6.2 percent). While the lowest salaries saw an increase of only 2.9 percent. This has emerged from a survey of 190,024 workers by consultancy bureau SD Worx.

SD Worx examined ten salary brackets and made a comparison between January 2006 and January 2007. The increase in total annual salary (the fixed and variable wages in cash) came to 3.4 percent. In particular the top salary bracket saw a significant increase (+6.2 percent), resulting from the rise in the variable salary component (bonuses, commissions, premiums, etc.)

The wage increase was lower at small businesses. In companies employing less than 100 workers the rise only came to 2.73 percent, while in larger companies with more than 1,000 workers salaries increased 3.71 percent.

Subject: Belgian news