PC 116 pay scale 2026: minimum hourly wage for chemical industry workers
Blue-collar workers in the chemical industry: operators and technicians in chemicals, pharma and plastics.
Valid from 1 May 2026 (indexation 2.00%) · Next indexation: No fixed date: wages rise by 2% each time the pivot index is exceeded. Liantis and Securex expect the next ones on 1 November 2026 and 1 March 2027 (forecasts of early September 2026). · Source: minimumlonen.be (FOD Werk), PC 116 scheikundige nijverheid, nationaal minimumuurloon, geldig vanaf 01/05/2026 (checked on 1 October 2026)
Minimum hourly wage per weekly schedule
Gross per hour, from 1 May 2026 (indexation 2%). The rows are months of seniority.
| Seniority (months) | 38u | 38u30 | 39u | 39u30 | 40u |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | €16.2530 | €16.0420 | €15.8365 | €15.6360 | €15.4405 |
| 12 | €16.4400 | €16.2265 | €16.0185 | €15.8155 | €15.6180 |
gross per hour
Minimum hourly wage for students
Gross per hour, from 1 May 2026.
| Function | 38u | 38u30 | 39u | 39u30 | 40u |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student | €15.5545 | €15.3525 | €15.1560 | €14.9645 | €14.7770 |
gross per hour
How to read this table
- PC 116 has a single minimum hourly wage at sector level, that of the ordinary labourer, with a higher amount after 12 months of seniority. Wages per function are agreed at company level in chemicals and are usually higher.
- The minimum hourly wages include the basic hourly wage and any fixed production premiums, excluding all other premiums.
- Higher minimum wages apply to the plastics processing industry in West Flanders and Limburg.
- The scale for young workers was abolished on 1 June 2011: the sector minimum applies regardless of your age.
- At an indexation both the minimum and the actual wages rise.
Minimum versus market
These are the statutory minimums of the joint committee. What employers actually pay for technical profiles today usually sits higher; compare with the market ranges from our role profiles:
Amounts copied literally from the source; we re-verify them at every indexation. Your payslip, the sector agreement and your payroll provider remain the final word.