Death costs heating up

Belgium faces a cost-of-dying crisis as rising energy prices hit funeral and cremation services.

As well as soaring energy bills, the sector – like other employers – faces a squeeze because of wage rises which, in Belgium, are automatically indexed to inflation.

Philippe Dussard, the general manager of the Robermont crematorium in Liege, said energy bills for its ovens had quadrupled over the past year.

“For us, gas is an important item. In January 2021, we paid €9000. In January 2022, we paid €36,000,” he said.

Inflation was also hitting the business, he said, adding: “Since the beginning of the year, and from June, we have to take into account a 6 per cent increase in the wage bill.”