The wage increase in May is “relatively high,” says the employers’ organization. High wage increases have been agreed in a few collective agreements, as in those for pharmacists. Their salaries are increased by 20% in steps.
Last month, according to the employers’ association, a total of eighteen collective agreements were closed. They apply to 101,000 employees.
Last month’s increase is higher than the 3.6% increase in April. Then the percentage came under 4% for the first time in more than two and a half years. Since the monthly average in June 2023 rose to 8%, the increase has decreased according to AWVN. The decrease stopped last fall, after which the monthly averages got stuck on just over 4%. The average over 2025 is 4.1%so far.
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AWVN expects the wage increases to fall slightly in the coming months, mainly because of the ‘worrying position’ of the industry. “Scaling of production capacity and reorganisations now take place at various industrial companies, sometimes even followed by company closure. If the industry weakens, suppliers and buyers and their employees are also the bobbin in the long term.”
With regard to the employers’ association, trade unions should take more account of the health and market position of companies in collective labor agreement negotiations. “The fact that the FNV sets a wage desire of 7% Table as standard, regardless of the situation at the relevant company or industry, is an eye for employers,” AWVN repeats.