As of 1 January 2026, the minimum hourly wage will be changed. What are the new amounts?
As of 1 January 2024, the statutory minimum wage has become a statutory minimum hourly wage. This means, the hourly wage no longer depends on the extent of full-time employment, as was the case until then. The minimum wage remained the same regardless of whether the employee’s full-time work week was 36, 38 or 40 hours. As a result, the amount of the minimum wage per hour varied.
The new minimum hourly wage is based on the old minimum wage for a 36-hour work week. Employees who work more than 36 hours for the minimum wage will, in practice, receive an additional wage increase as a result, on top of the regular indexation of wages.
The amounts for the statutory gross minimum hourly wage for employees 21 years of age and older and the minimum hourly youth wage as of 1 January 2026 can be found in the table below. Different amounts apply to apprentices working through vocational training (bbl):
| Age | Percentage | Hourly wage | Hourly wage bbl |
| 21 years and older | 100% | € 14.71 | € 14.71 |
| 20 years | 80% | € 11.77 | € 9.05 |
| 19 years | 60% | € 8.83 | € 7.72 |
| 18 years | 50% | € 7.36 | € 6.69 |
| 17 years | 39,5% | € 5.81 | € 5.81 |
| 16 years | 34,5% | € 5.07 | € 5.07 |
| 15 jaar | 30% | € 4.41 | € 4.41 |
Because the minimum wage has become a minimum hourly (youth) wage, it does no longer matter whether the working time is shorter than the customary working time.
Would you like to learn more about salary and working conditions? Do you have other questions about amending employment contracts? Please contact us:
As of 1 January 2022, the statutory minimum wage and minimum youth wage will be increased. What are the new amounts of the minimum wage?
The European AI Act requires employers to ensure that employees have sufficient knowledge of AI systems. This can be achieved through training, but also through an AI policy tailored to the company. What should you include in such a policy? What role does the works council play in the implementation of the AI policy?
Reinier W.L. Russell, LL.M. has published an article on The benefits of a works council for entrepreneurs in the “Off the record” section of Primerus Weekly on March 3, 2026. Below you will find the text of this article.
Employees who are underperforming may be dismissed. However, they must first be given the opportunity to improve their performance through a performance improvement plan (PIP). What requirements must such a plan meet?
The works council has the right of consent when establishing, amending or withdrawing a remuneration system. Is an amendment to a share scheme an amendment to the remuneration system?
The salary thresholds for highly skilled migrants and European Blue Card holders are adjusted annually. What will be the amounts for 2026? Also, stricter rules for the highly skilled migrant scheme are proposed. What might change?
