Highest special allowances paid in sectors mineral extraction and financial services

In 2010, the highest special allowances, 17 thousand euro per working year were paid in the sector mineral extraction. Two thirds were bonuses, etc. With more than 12 thousand euro, the sector financial services was in second place.

Wide variety of special bonuses

Special bonuses per working year varied considerably across the sectors. People employed in the sector mineral extraction received nearly 17 thousand euro in 2010 versus nearly 2 thousand euro for people employed in the sector hotels and restaurants.

With nearly 11 thousand and more than 6 thousand euro per working year respectively, irregular special bonuses are high in the sectors mineral extraction and financial services. In 2008 and 2009, the sector mineral extraction also paid higher irregular special bonuses than the sector financial services. Proportionally, many irregular special bonuses, but few pre-agreed bonuses were granted in the sector energy supply, the sector information and communication and the sector specialist business services.

Special bonuses per working year, 2010

Few pre-agreed bonuses granted in sectors construction, manufacturing industry and transport

Holiday allowances do not contribute to the large differences between the various sectors. Holiday allowances are usually a fixed percentage of an employee’s wage as laid down in the labour contract. Pre-agreed and irregular special bonuses account for the difference. Pre-agreed bonuses are relatively rare in large sectors like construction, manufacturing industry, transport and hotels and restaurants. End-of-year bonuses are common in the sectors education and public administration, but irregular special bonuses are rare. The lowest irregular special bonuses were granted in the sectors agriculture and hotels and restaurants in 2010. 

Fewer bonuses granted in sectors financial services and residential and non-residential property

Bonuses have declined marginally across the entire private sector since 2008. This applies in particular to the sectors financial services and residential and non-residential property between 2008 and 2010. Bonuses were reduced by approximately one fifth. A less substantial reduction was observed in the sectors transport, culture and other business services.

Bonuses granted in the sectors information, hotels and restaurants, water and health care and welfare have continually – though marginally – risen over the same period. In the sector energy supply, bonuses have obviously increased. The amount paid in bonuses in 2009 was relatively high, partly on account of takeovers in the sector. 

Irregular special bonuses per working year, 2008-2010

Marjolijn Trijssenaar and Lona Verkooijen