The pivotal index was exceeded in June 2026. As a result, public sector wages were indexed in September 2026, including those of all Ghent University staff members.
Wage indexation
Wage indexation normally ensures that wages are adjusted to the rising cost of living: when the prices of a specific basket of everyday products and services rise by at least 2 percent over a certain period, wages are also increased by 2 percent.
This way, one does not lose purchasing power, but can continue to make the same purchases as before with the wages received (for example, supermarket shopping, apartment rent, buying a new washing machine, etc.).
If this indexation were not to take place, you would ultimately be able to afford fewer and fewer of these items with the same wage, and thus lose purchasing power.
The indexation skip
September 2026 also marked the first time the 'index jump'—introduced by the current federal government under the name 'centenindex'—was applied. As a result, colleagues with a gross salary (adjusted to a full-time equivalent) exceeding €4,000 per month did not see their pay rise by the standard 2% indexation rate, but rather by a gross amount of just €80.
Recipients of benefits—such as pensioners or contract staff on long-term sick leave—see this indexation cap applied starting at a gross benefit amount of €2,000 per month. Above this ceiling, indexation yields a gross increase of only €40.
All these affected individuals are seeing their purchasing power decline permanently as a result of this measure by the federal government.
Will I also be affected by this indexation skip?
A gross monthly salary of 4,000 euros might seem like a relatively high amount at first glance, but appearances can be deceiving.
This measure affects all members of the academic staff and contract research staff, as well as all administrative and technical staff (ATP) colleagues in job classification A+.
At Ghent University, administrative and technical staff (ATP) in job class A who start without prior work experience reach a full-time gross monthly salary of over €4,000 after just two years.
For ATP colleagues in job class B, this occurs after 12 years of employment. Colleagues in job class C reach this amount after 16 years of employment.
And even colleagues in job class D in the later years of their careers, after just over 20 years of employment, are affected by this index skip.
How much do I lose due to this index skip?
On your UGent payslip for September 2026, you can—with a little calculation—see exactly how much you are losing due to this index skip. Below, you will find a step-by-step guide on how to do this. (If you are unable to perform the calculation or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at ACOD@UGent.be.)
At the top of the payslip, just above the table listing the number of days worked and the normal gross monthly salary for the current month, you can find your non-indexed annual salary.
In addition, as of this month, you will see a new entry labeled "Correctie CI" (CI Correction) accompanied by an amount. This "CI" refers to the so-called "centenindex" (cents index). The amount listed next to it is the non-indexed sum deducted from your non-indexed annual salary as a result of this measure.
Finally, at the end of this line on the payslip, you will find the current "index," expressed as a percentage. It is currently 220.80 percent.
When you convert this index percentage (= dividing it by 100), you obtain the index figure by which the unindexed amounts must be multiplied to arrive at their current value. In practical terms, this means that at the current index level, you need to multiply these unindexed amounts by 2.2080.
If you multiply the amount next to "Correction CI" by this index figure, you obtain the total annual amount (at the current index level) that you lose due to the federal index jump.
You carry this loss with you throughout your entire career, and it continues to accumulate year after year. When subsequent wage indexations occur later on (even if they are "full" indexations), the lost amount is also indexed, meaning the value of that loss continues to rise each year.
Conclusion
This anti-social measure causes a permanent erosion of the income and purchasing power of employees (regardless of their employment status) and benefit recipients. Many current and former Ghent University colleagues across all staff categories are affected by this, from the highest- to the lowest-paid positions.
As ACOD, we continue to oppose these and other socially unjust measures taken by the current federal and Flemish governments, and we call upon all members of the Ghent University community to continue taking action with us!