Civil servants to receive 15 percent salary increase at the end of September

The government is granting a 15 percent salary increase to civil servants and equivalent employees. The measure is expected to be reflected in salaries by the end of September 2026. This marks a new provisional outcome of negotiations between the government and various labour movement organisations.

The salary adjustment follows several rounds of consultations on the income position of civil servants. The government had previously proposed a structural wage adjustment of 10 percent. That offer was rejected by several unions. Ravaksur had previously stated that it was standing by a wage adjustment of 25 percent. Key News previously reported extensively on Ravaksur’s demands.

Talks intensified in recent weeks. The government indicated that room for wage measures had to be weighed against the financial position of the State. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the negotiations on wage adjustments were aimed at improving the income position of civil servants within the government’s financial capacity.

15 percent salary increase after intensive consultations

With the 15 percent salary increase, the government has gone beyond its initial proposal of 10 percent. At the same time, the percentage remains below the 25 percent that Ravaksur had previously put forward as its target. Thursday’s joint statement makes clear that the salary increase will be implemented, but that not all elements of the employment conditions package have yet been finalised.

That distinction is important. The parties have reached an outcome on the general salary increase, but no final agreement has yet been concluded on all further employment conditions. Issues remain on the table that require further elaboration, including the financial framework within which any additional measures must be implemented.

Working group given three months

A mixed working group will be established to address the remaining issues. It will consist of eight representatives of the government and seven representatives of the labour movement. The group will be given three months to develop concrete proposals for the further implementation of the employment conditions and the associated financial framework.

The composition of the working group means that both the government and employee organisations will remain directly involved in the follow-up process. The proposals should provide greater clarity on which additional measures are financially feasible and how they can be incorporated into future agreements.

The salary increase has been settled, but the broader wage talks are not yet over.

Earlier 10 percent offer rejected

The new 15 percent salary increase follows a period in which the positions of the government and unions were still considerably far apart. The government initially proposed 10 percent. That offer did not receive sufficient support from the labour movement, after which negotiations continued on an amended proposal.

The education unions also rejected the initial offer. BvL and ALS announced earlier this week that the unions involved had not accepted the 10 percent proposal and expected a new proposal from the government. That amended proposal ultimately amounted to 15 percent.

Statement signed by government and labour movement

The joint statement was signed on behalf of the government by Minister of Home Affairs Marinus Bee and Vincent Fernandes, director at Finance. On behalf of the labour movement, Armand Zunder signed for Ravaksur Plus and Reshma Mangre signed for BvL and ALS.

Marisa Meye, on behalf of the Joint Education Unions, and Revelino Eijk, coordinator of the Joint Security Unions, also signed the statement. By signing, the parties formalised the agreements on the 15 percent salary increase and the continuation of negotiations.

What does the 15 percent salary increase mean?

For civil servants and equivalent employees, the measure means that their general salary will be increased by 15 percent. According to the announced agreements, the increase will be granted at the end of September 2026. For employees, this means a structural rise in income, although the exact amounts may differ per person depending on their current salary.

During the negotiations, the government consistently stressed that wage measures must fit within the financial capacity of the State. The labour movement, on the other hand, maintains that employees are facing higher costs and that improving their purchasing power remains necessary.

Consultations on employment conditions continue

The 15 percent salary increase therefore represents a concrete outcome, but not the end of the negotiation process. The mixed working group has now been tasked with further developing the remaining financial and employment-condition issues.

At the end of the three-month period, it should be clearer which additional proposals are feasible. It will then also become apparent whether the government and labour movement can reach broader agreement on the remaining employment conditions and what consequences new agreements may have for civil servants and public finances.