Employment conditions

As a worker you have both rights and duties. The general employment conditions for all types of work are outlined here.

We spend a large part of our time at work, which means that good employment conditions are very important. The specific conditions depend on whether you work in the public or private sector and whether you are employed or self-employed, but all workers have both rights and duties. The general employment conditions for all types of work are outlined here. There are also links to sources of more detailed information.

Labour laws

The Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue is responsible for ensuring good relations between employees and employers. Its website is a great source of information, especially about labour laws, non-discrimination, holidays, well-being at work, employment contracts and more.

FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
Rue Ernest Blerot 1, 1070 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 233 41 11
Online: www.emploi.belgique.be (FR/NL)

Permits and licences

Some activities are subject to specific permits or licences. See the relevant pages on this website for more details.
To work in Belgium, non-European citizens need a work permit (single permit or work permit) to work as employees and a professional card if they want to work as self-employed professionals.

Social security

All employees, employers and self-employed people must ensure their social security is in order. Thanks to your social security contributions you and your children are insured in the event of illness, unemployment or accident among other things (FR/NL).

They are also the basis of your claim to some allowances, holidays and state pension when you reach the statutory retirement age. Social security contributions are deducted automatically from your pay if you are an employee; the self-employed will have to arrange this themselves.

FPS Social Security
Centre administratif Botanique
Finance Tower
Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 50 - box 100, 1000 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 528 60 11
Online: socialsecurity.fgov.be

Mutual

Workers are obliged to join a mutual benefit society or the Caisse auxiliaire d'Assurance Maladie-Invalidité (auxiliary illness and disability insurance fund). Based on your monthly or three-monthly contributions your mutual helps pay various medical expenses (such as medication, doctor’s visits, hospitalisation, antenatal care) and reimburses you in the event of illness or disability. You are free to choose which mutual you join.

Caisse auxiliaire d'Assurance Maladie-Invalidité
Phone: +32 (0)2 229 35 00
Online: www.caami.be (FR/NL)
Christian mutual
Phone: +32 (0)2 246 41 11
Online: www.mc.be (FR/NL)
Socialist mutuals
Phone: +32 (0)2 515 02 11
Online: www.mutsoc.be (FR) - www.socmut.be (NL)
Neutral mutual
Phone: +32 (0)2 538 83 00
Online: www.mutualites-neutres.be (FR/NL)
Liberal mutual
Phone: +32 (0)2 542 86 00
Online: www.mutualiteliberale.be (FR/NL)
Independent mutuals
Phone: +32 (0)2 778 92 11
Online: www.mloz.be (FR/NL)

Personal income tax

You must pay taxes on your income to help the Belgian state pay for infrastructure and services. At the end of every June, all adults must submit their tax declaration (on paper or online) covering the previous year’s income.

FPS Finances
Phone: +32 (0)257 257 57
Online: minfin.fgov.be

Your tax declaration online at www.taxonweb.be (FR/NL)

Holiday pay

As well as holidays, employees are also entitled to holiday pay. For ‘white-collar’ workers and civil servants this bonus is paid out by the employer; for ‘blue-collar’ workers by the Office national des Vacances annuelles (ONVA, national office for annual holidays). The under 25s and the over 50s may be entitled to a young persons or senior citizens holiday allowance in some circumstances.

Office national des Vacances annuelles
Rue de la Croix 4, 1050 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 627 97 60
Online: www.onva-rjv.fgov.be (FR/NL/DE)

Young persons or senior citizens holidays

In Belgium the number of holiday days you are entitled to depends on your contributions in the previous year. That means that young people who have just completed their studies and the long-term unemployed have no entitlement to holidays, as they will not have worked during the previous twelve months.

To help workers at both ends of the age scale, young persons or senior citizens holiday of up to four weeks is available, paid by the Office national de l'Emploi (ONEM, national employment office).

Young person holidays
Under 25s who have just completed their studies can claim young persons holidays if they have worked for as little as one month in the previous year.
Senior citizens holidays
Employees over 50s are granted supplementary paid holiday days based on the number of days worked in the previous year.

Unions

The unions defend the rights of workers in consultations with the public authorities and employers. They can also answer questions about employment conditions, your relations with your employer and all your rights and duties. Union membership is optional.

CSC (Christian union)
Phone:+32 (0)2 246 31 11
Online: www.acv-csc.be (FR/NL/DE)
FGTB (socialist union)
Phone: +32(0)2 552 03 41
Online: www.fgtb.be (FR/NL)
CGSLB (liberal union)
Phone: +32 (0)2 206 67 11
Online: www.aclvb.be (FR/NL)

Working & doing business