Pay deals closed this month include an average wage increase of 2.36%, compared with 3.19% in November, according to the FNV trade union federation.

The slowdown is due to the agreement reached between unions, employers and ministers to temper pay increases because of the recession. Earlier this year they pledged to keep pay rises to inflation, currently running at 1.8%.
So far 112 out of 500 sector-wide pay deals have been sealed this year, Nos tv said.