Wages of Flemish teachers and civil servants are also indexed slower
© Belga
The wages of the Flemish government personnel will also be indexed slower. That is an automatic consequence of the Federal Government decision not to adjust it for two, but only three months after exceeding the pivot index. It results in a saving of 40 to 60 million euros for Flanders.
The Flemish Government is still looking for 330 million euros this year to keep the budget in order. That is also necessary, now that budgetary headwind is lighting. Since the economy is growing a lot slower, the tax revenues of the federal government are falling and in this way Flanders also receives less money. Since the preparation of the budget, the gap has already become larger by 680 million euros. In total it is 4 billion euros, says the Flemish Minister for Budget and Finance Ben Weyts (N-VA).
Budgetary
It is not yet clear how and where N-VA, CD&V and Vooruit will find the 330 million. That must be apparent in the coming months. A large part is said to be found at budgets that were not published, the so -called under -utilization. Ministers who do not get money used up in time will now no longer be able to keep track of that. This now requires the approval of the entire government.
The slower indexing of the wages of Flemish officials is the result of a decision by the federal government. – © Chris Nelis
Budgetary included is already the federal measure to make the indexation of wages and benefits slower. Until now, the wages of civil servants are indexed two months later after exceeding the pivot index. That will soon be – when the Chamber will have approved the Program Act – three months. This measure also automatically applies to the wages of the Flemish government employees. And with that, the Flemish Government, that pays those wages, can save 40 to 60 million euros.
Storm in glass water
According to Ben Weyts, the same thing would happen with Flemish benefits, such as the transition premium, the resumption surcharge or the care credit. But the necessary fuss arose about this within the coalition. Both Vooruit and at CD&V could be heard that nothing has been decided on that. With Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), the discussion was dismissed as a storm in a glass of water.
