The social security of employees would have recorded a deficit of 3.4 billion euros last year, according to the FEB on the basis of the budget figures presented to global management. For this year, the deficit is estimated at just under €5.7 billion. The latter figure is more than a billion euros smaller than expected, partly due to the pivot index, which would be exceeded later than expected. In that case, the benefits and pensions should not be indexed.
The shortage is smaller, but “remains high”, according to VBO expert Alice Defauw. The main concern for employers is that the gap between social security expenditure and receipts will worsen in the coming years, says Defauw. This growing gap increases the deficits and jeopardizes the financial sustainability of the social security system, warns the FEB. In concrete terms, the deficit would rise to more than 12 billion euros in 2028, according to the FEB.