What is the central index?
The central index is a benchmark that decides when social benefits and government salaries are adjusted for inflation. If the average of the last four months of the health index (known as the 'flattened' health index) exceeds the central index, those amounts will increase by 2 percent.
Will the central index be exceeded again in 2025?
The central index (130.67) was exceeded in January 2025.
Read more: "The central index was exceeded in January 2025"
According to the latest forecasts from the Federal Planning Bureau, the central index is not expected to be exceeded in 2025.
- The central index (133.28) is expected to be reached only in January 2026
If the central index is exceeded, wages and social benefits will increase by 2%.
However, if the latest predictions are accurate, then social benefits and the salaries of government personnel will not increase in 2025.
The federal government has stated in the program law that social benefits and civil servant salaries will only be increased three months after the consumer price index is exceeded. This means that the salaries of government personnel will only be adjusted by 2% in April 2026.
Non-profit sectors
The non-profit sectors (such as nursing homes and childcare centres) will also receive a 2% indexation. This adjustment occurs in the first or second month after the central index is exceeded, based on agreements made at the sector level.
The social partners have issued a unanimous advice-2447.pdf in the NAR to ensure that the government's decision to index only three months later would not affect the non-profit sectors.
What is the impact on other amounts?
Furthermore, there will also be an increase in the GMMI, the work bonus, the flex wage in the hospitality sector, and more.
All these amounts can be found in our socio- and fiscal list.
Index forecast for Joint Committee 200
In Joint Committee No. 200, wages are indexed once a year in January. The indexation rules in JC 200 are therefore not linked to the central index.
In January 2025, wages in JC 200 were indexed by 3.58%.
The forecast for January 2026 is currently 2.05%.
Read more: 'Indexation rules JC 200'
Index forecast in other sectors
Each sector determines its own indexation rules. Some sectors index once a year at a fixed time with a variable percentage, like JC 200. Other sectors index at a variable time but with a fixed percentage.
An example of the latter system is the chemical sector. This is JC 116 for manual workers and JC 207 for employees. There, wages were indexed by 2% in April 2025.
The next index is not expected until November 2026.
Check the rules in your sector via Joint Committees > Determining wages > Indexation rules.
