Pay deals negotiated between unions and employers in April included an average wage rise of 3.4%, the highest figure in 13 years, according to employers’ advisory group AWVN.

In total, 26 deals were agreed last month, covering 230,000 people, the AWVN said.

Wages have shown an upward trend since last year but are still a long way from offering compensation for inflation, which is currently around 9.6%.

The Financieele Dagblad said earlier this month that hourly wages payable via staffing platforms such as Temper and Youbahn are also rising, particularly in the hospitality sector.

Youbahn, for example, which has some 40,000 temporary employees on its books, is now offering wages of €14.50 per hour for bar staff, up 20% on the beginning of the year. Pay rates offered for cleaning and care jobs have also gone up by between 4% and 8%, the FD said.

So far this year, 140 pay and condition agreements have been signed, covering 1.9 million workers and with an average annual pay rise of just under 3%.