Belgium is champion of strikes in Europe, according to figures from the Institute of German WSI Studies of the Hans-Böckler Foundation, a organ of German unions. Over 1,000 workers, there are 107 days of strike during the period 2014-2023.
The podium is unchanged from the previous study since Finland retains its third place, with 93 days of strike per thousand employees. A few years ago, the Finnish average was still 52.
With our German and Dutch neighbors, there are 21 days of strike per thousand workers.
Compared to the period studied last year (2013-2022), Belgium has an additional four days of strike, but this increase is observed in most countries. The study authors explain this progression by high inflation, which generates many social turmoil.
Still according to this study, wages increased well in 2024: from 4.5% on average in the euro zone, that is to say real salary growth (after inflation) of 2.1%. In real terms, Belgium is not well off since the percentage is even negative (-1.4%). But our country had experienced in 2023 a salary increase above average, of 5.6% (after inflation). The remuneration is fairly quickly adapted in Belgium due to automatic wage indexing.
