The Dutch unions federation (FNV) issued on September 19 a claim for a 2.5% wage increase in 2007 coinciding with the presentation of the 2007 budget by Gerrit Zalm, Finance minister, who is enthusiastically counting on a 3.25% growth of the economy in 2006 with expectations of 3% in 2007. The unions consider they have made enough sacrifices. (Ref. 06929)
While most of the collective agreements for next year have already been signed, the average wage increase will not exceed 2% (against an inflation of 1.5%), Gerrit Zalm specified. After dropping consecutively over five years, the purchasing power of the Dutch should nonetheless increase 1% in 2007 thanks to various tax reduction measures. In 2006 wages grew 1.75% against an inflation of 1.25%. Agnes Jongerus, general secretary of the FNV, considers wage earners have made enough sacrifices in re
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