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Working in the private sector

Private-sector employees, that is people employed by businesses and NPOs, work on the basis of an employment contract.
The private sector comprises all businesses and organisations not under the management or direction of the public authorities. This obviously includes commercial businesses, but non-profit organisations (the legal acronym in French is 'asbl') are also in this category. The majority of workers in Belgium are employed in the private sector.

Employees

The relationship between private sector employees and employers is governed by an employment contract. Employees in Belgium are further divided into two categories: 'ouvriers' and 'employés'. The former are what are informally known as ‘blue-collar workers’ in English; the latter as ‘white-collar workers’. The two categories of workers have slightly different employment conditions in terms of probationary period, notice period, temporary layoffs, holiday bonuses and wage or salary payment.

For more information on employment contracts (FR/NL) see the employment portal Belgium.be

Private sector employers must comply with federal labour law and the collective bargaining agreements, which are concluded by sector.

To find out more about employment conditions (FR/NL), visit the website of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue

Who to contact

FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
Rue Ernest Blerot, 1, 1070 Brussels
Email: information@emploi.belgique.be
Online: www.emploi.belgique.be (FR/NL)

 

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