Talent Wiki - Belgium

Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Belgium

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Capital

Brussels

Currency

Euro

Languages

Dutch, German, French

Payroll Frequency

Monthly

GDP per Capita

$47,800

Employer Tax

27%

Supplementary Guide for Employment and Expansion in Belgium

Talent Overview

Belgium, located almost at the center of Europe, has a highly developed and urbanized economy with a core focus on the service sector. The high-end service industries are located in the northern part of the country, while coal and manufacturing sectors are primarily found in the south. Belgium offers diverse and competitive candidates, most proficient in more than one language.

Major economic hubs:

Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent

Skills in demand:

Accountants, Architects, Administrative staff, IT professionals, Engineers, Nursing professionals

Local Universities

The top local universities in Belgium are as follows:

KU Leuven

RANKING

Belgium : 1

World : 48

Ghent University

RANKING

Belgium : 2

World : 85

UC Louvain

RANKING

Belgium : 3

World : 148

Université Libre de Bruxelles

RANKING

Belgium : 4

World : 202

University of Antwerp

RANKING

Belgium : 5

World : 212

Salary Data

No.	Job Title	Average Salary (in EUR)	Average Salary (in USD)
1	Financial Manager	12,000	13,208.90
2	Accountant	4,510	4,963.60
3	Graphic Designer	4,060	4,467.25
4	Business Analyst	7,720	8,493.94
5	Project Manager	6,980	7,678.53
6	Sales Manager	10,500	11,550.92
7	Developer/Programmer	6,100	6,711.38

Talent Sourcing Tips

Top Local Job Boards

Vdab, Jobat ,Le Forem

Number of LinkedIn Users

4.3 million (2022)

Multiplier Recruitment Partner

iXceed

Employing in Belgium

Belgian labor laws are focused on the well-being of the employees and protect them from discrimination. Collective bargaining agreements are usually between the trade union and the employer (a company or an individual).

Employee Contract

As for the language of the employment contract, either Dutch, French, or German is mandatory depending on the employee's place of work or the registered office of the business firm.

Probation period

The usual probationary period followed in Belgium is from one to six months.

Public and Provincial Holidays

Date	Name	Type
1 January	New Year’s Day	National Holiday
17 April	Easter Sunday	National Holiday
18 April	Easter Monday	National Holiday
1 May	Labor Day	National Holiday
26 May	Ascension Day	National Holiday
5 Jun	Whit Sunday	National Holiday
6 Jun	Whit Monday	National Holiday
11 July	Day of the Flemish Community	Regional Holiday (Antwerp, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, West Flanders)
21 July	Belgian National Day	National Holiday
15 Aug	Assumption of Mary	National Holiday
18 Sept	Day of the Walloon Region	Regional Holiday (Namur)
27 Sep	Day of the French Community	Regional Holiday (Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant)
1 Nov	All Saints' Day	National Holiday
11 Nov	Armistice Day	National Holiday
15 Nov	Day of the German-speaking Community	Regional Holiday (Liège)
25 Dec	Christmas Day	National Holiday

Employee Leaves

Type of leave	Time Period	Mandatory
Annual leave/Earned Leave	24 days	Yes
Sick Leave	30 days	Yes
Maternity Leave	20 weeks	Yes

Payroll

Payroll Cycle

The payroll cycle is set once a month, and salaries are usually paid at the end of the month.

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Minimum Wage

As of 2022, the minimum wage set by law in Belgium is €1,658.2 per month.

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Overtime pay

Any hours exceeding the regular 38 working hours a week are considered overtime and should be paid at 150% of their regular rate. Overtime is paid at 200% of their regular wage rates on Sundays and public holidays.

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Health Examination Clause

Bonus

13th month salary

Most companies pay the 13^th month salary as a bonus to their employees, at the end of the year, before Christmas.

Employee Benefits

The common benefits allotted for employees include:

~Social Security
~Pension Insurance
~13th Month Salary
~Maternity Leave
~Paternity Leave
~Holiday Bonus
~Annual and other leaves
~Healthcare and Insurance

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Taxes

Employer Payroll Tax

The employer's payroll tax is at 27% for social security.

Employee Payroll Tax

Employees pay 13.07% of their total gross compensation as social security contributions.

Additionally, a special social security contribution ranging between EUR 9.30 to EUR 60.94 is also collected from the monthly net salary and is not tax deductible.

Employee Income Tax

Income Group	Tax Rate
0 - 13,540	25%
13,541 - 23,900	40%
23,901 - 41,360	45%
Above 41,360	50%

VAT

Belgium follows a standard VAT of 21%.

Offboarding & Termination

Termination Process

An employment contract can be terminated depending on the employment agreement between the parties by serving a notice period, payment of indemnity, or a combination of both. Employees with service over six months have the right to be informed of the reason for termination.

Notice Period

Notice period varies depending on the length of employment. During the probationary period, it is up to 3 weeks, and for permanent employees, it ranges from two to thirteen weeks.

Severance Pay

In the absence of a notice period on termination, employees are entitled to severance pay which would equal the amount they would earn during the notice period.

Visa and Immigration

Belgium allows the citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to work freely in the country. Work and/or residence permit is needed for other citizens to work in the country.

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Talent Wiki - Belgium

Supplementary Guide for Employment and Expansion in Belgium