Sector agreement 2023-2024 for independent retail and medium-sized food businesses

The social partners of Joint Committee 201 (non-manual workers independent retail) and Joint Subcommittee 202.01 (non-manual workers medium-sized food businesses) concluded a sector agreement (identically worded) on 30 November 2023 for the period 2023-2024.

As a reminder, the wage standard for the 2023-2024 period was set at 0%, but a purchasing power bonus is not included.

The key points of this agreement are outlined below. A more detailed analysis will soon be published in our sector documentation.

Purchasing power bonus

These sectors provide a one-time purchasing power bonus for companies that have achieved (exceptionally) high profits in 2022. The award criterion is the increase in operating income (code 9901) in fiscal year 2022 compared to the average of previous fiscal years (2019-2020-2021).

• For high profits (increase + 5%), the purchasing power bonus is:

• EUR 75 for non-food and food specialty businesses
• EUR 150 for supermarkets
• For exceptionally high profits (increase + 25%), the purchasing power bonus is:
• EUR 150 for non-food and food specialty businesses
• EUR 250 for supermarkets

The bonus is granted to non-manual workers who are employed on 31 October 2023 and at the time of payment of the bonus, pro rata to the effective or equivalent working time (cf. annual leave) during the reference period running from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023.

This one-time bonus is paid at the same time as the end-of-year bonus but is not included in its calculation.

Mobility

From 1/1/2024, the employer contribution in transport costs will change as follows:

• Private transport: An employer contribution becomes mandatory when a worker travels to work exclusively by means of private transportation. This is 50% of the price of the monthly 2nd class train card for an equivalent distance (limited to a maximum of 10 km single distance).
• Bicycle: increase from EUR 0.24 to EUR 0.27 EUR/km.

End-of-year bonus

As of 01/01/2024, for the purpose of calculating the end-of-year bonus, absences due to the taking of annual leave, legal holidays, days of inactivity stipulated in the CBA, working time reduction/ circumstantial leave, leave of absence for compelling reasons, occupational illness or work-related accident will be treated as equivalent.

There will also be equalization for a maximum of 60 days per year of absence due to illness or accident, maternity leave or paternity leave for a worker whose spouse cannot take maternity leave.

End of career (RCC/SWT and time credit & end-of-career jobs)

The existing CBAs will be extended for the period from 01/07/2023 to 30/06/2025.

Various

• Training: a "training" steering committee will be established within the joint committee to monitor training in the sector. The social partners recommend balancing the ratio of “formal” to “informal” training, giving preference to certified training (certification can be internal to the company).
• Supplementary pension: the social partners undertake to monitor future regulatory developments regarding the harmonization of supplementary pensions for manual and non-manual workers and, if necessary, to intervene appropriately (if necessary with the help of experts).
• Aggression at the workplace: the social partners are aware of the importance of an effective safety policy in the shops so that employees can carry out their work in a calm environment. This will be discussed within the Social Fund and a positive awareness campaign to customers will be considered.
• Social peace: the workers and employers undertake to maintain social peace in the companies for the duration of this agreement (which is from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025). The parties will make no new demands regarding the content of the agreement at the sector or company level during the term of this agreement.

More information

A more detailed analysis will soon be available in our sector information.

Sources:  Sector Agreement 2023-2024 dated 30 November 2023 (JC 201) and Sector Agreement 2023-2024 dated 30 November 2023 (JSC 202.01).