The Council of Ministers has agreed to increase the minimum wage for seasonal workers, Le Soir reports. Until recently, seasonal workers received a minimum wage much lower than that for year-round employees.
The change is most likely to affect employment in fields such as agriculture, horticulture, catering, and leisure, which all rely heavily on seasonal labour, often from abroad.
From July, the minimum wage for these employees will be realigned. The government plans to compensate for this salary increase by “fiscal and parafiscal means.”
The measure is intended to combat social dumping in seasonal employment. Some foreign seasonal workers work gruelling shifts for rates much below the average rate for standard employees. The new minimum wage for seasonal workers will remain in place for the next year and could be made permanent from July 2024.
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Belgium’s coast is a particular hotspot for seasonal workers, many of whom come from neighbouring France. During the summer months, French workers earn on average €3 more per hour in Belgium than at home.
