September 16, 2025 
Photo: Depositphotos
Trade unions are calling for pay rises of 6% next year to offset the impact of high inflation in recent years.
The FNV union said it would be demanding 6% rises in the next pay bargaining round with employers, while CNV will be asking for 3.5% to 5%, varying per sector.
FNV also wants the minimum wage to rise to €18 an hour and be index-linked to inflation in future, to protect the lowest paid workers.
The unions submitted their outline demands ahead of the state opening of parliament on Tuesday, when caretaker finance minister Eelco Heinen will present his budget for next year.
The outgoing government is still required to submit its financial plans even though parliament will sit for just two more weeks before being dissolved ahead of the October 29 election. Most of the proposed measures will be voted on by the next parliament.
In the last two years wages increased by more than 6% a year to catch up with the 10% inflation in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up energy prices and associated costs. Unions had demanded increases of up to 14%.
Average spending power declined by 2.5% in 2022 and 0.7% the following year, before recovering in 2024. This year the FNV demanded a 7% rise while actual wage deals concluded in the first half of the year have included a 5.4% average increase.
Leaked details of this year’s budget suggest that the average person’s spending power will go up by 1.3% next year, based on estimated inflation of 2.3%.
Economy Inflation Politics Unions Work Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.
We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.