On 7 July, a historic social agreement was signed in the service voucher sector. Thanks to the mediation of Deputy Prime Minister and Employment Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet, the social partners finally reached a pay compromise after 4 years of deadlock.
A similar agreement had already been reached in the public sector and home care at the end of May. The entire private sector is now also covered.
Minister Jeholet: "After 4 years without a sectoral agreement (excluding automatic indexation), the social partners have found common ground to improve workers' purchasing power. This agreement shows that it is possible to talk to each other, understand each other and act together in the interest of the sector. With this renewed climate of trust between the social partners, I choose, as announced, to avoid coercive measures on the sector and to fully continue the in-depth reform, built with the partners, to ensure the sustainability of the service voucher sector, serving workers, businesses, and all the people of Wallonia who benefit from this essential service. I hope that the Brussels-Capital Region will soon be able to join this constructive dynamic, and I am pleased that Flanders has already set it in motion."
For a domestic helper working 24 hours a week, this means an extra €552 net per year. The gross pay rise also counts towards calculating a higher pension, holiday pay and the year-end bonus.
Every worker will also receive a one-off catch-up bonus of €208 net as compensation for the past first half of the year.