Employer of Record in Belgium: Hire, Manage, and Pay Talent Seamlessly

Agreements in Belgium

• Depending on the employee's place of employment or the registered office of the business firm, the employment contract must be in either Dutch, French, or German.
• All parties must be aware of the conditions, liabilities, and obligations before signing any contract in Belgium for it to be legally binding.
• Agreements and contracts can be in Dutch, French, and German languages.
• An agreement in Belgium must generally include the following details:

  • Type of contract
  • Identity proof of the parties
  • Description of the objectives of each party
  • Nature of the obligations and the circumstances under which they may be suspended
  • Payment and taxes (if applicable)
  • Duration and termination
  • Liability, force majeure

Visa in Belgium

• Belgium Short-Stay Visas

  • Belgian Schengen Visa for tourists and visitors- The Schengen visa is comparable to the Belgian tourist visa. You can only visit the country for a total of 90 days.
  • Belgium Transit Visa - A transit visa is given to travelers who only need to enter the Schengen area to switch modes of transportation.
• Belgium Long-Stay Visas (D-Visa)

  Those who want to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days must apply for a long-stay visa, depending on their reason for visiting (visa D).

  • Belgium Student Visa: This usually has a six-month validity period, although it can be extended up until the completion of your program.
  • Belgium Work Visa: This type of visa typically needs sponsorship from a Belgian employer, while there are certain exceptions to the rule.
  • Belgium Dependent Visa: If you have family members living in Belgium, usually a partner, and want to join them, you may be granted this visa, often known as a family reunion visa. Often, dependent visas are issued for the same time frame as the primary visa.

Minimum Wage in Belgium

Annual Bonus in Belgium

Health Benefits in Belgium

• Expats working in Belgium who are appropriately registered will have access to the country's excellent healthcare system.
• Official reimbursement rates for medical and hospital care are established via a contract between doctors, hospitals, clinics, and the government's health authority.

Working Hours and Overtime in Belgium

• Work hours: Standard working hours in Belgium are 38 hours per week.
• Break:• Break: The employee must be given a break if the work is over six hours. A collective agreement reached at a sectoral or corporate level specifies the length and terms of break grants. If there is no collective bargaining agreement, the employee must be given a quarter-hour break no later than when the work exceeds six hours.
• Overtime: Any hours worked more than the required 38 per week are considered overtime. They must be compensated at 150% of the standard rate. On weekends and public holidays, overtime is compensated at a rate that is 200% of their standard hourly rates.

Leaves in Belgium

Social Security in Belgium

• Employees must contribute 13.07% of their gross pay towards social security taxes.
• Depending on when the employee was hired, the employer's expense ranges from 25 to 27%.

Taxes for Employers in Belgium

• 25 - 27% - Social security
• 9% - Pension fund

Probation in Belgium

• There is no probationary period in Belgium. Probation has no legal weight and cannot be incorporated into a contract for employment.
• At the beginning of the employment contract, the regular procedures for termination should be followed.
• The employee does not have the right to request an explanation of the reason for the dismissal if it happens less than six months after the employment contract began.
• They won't be qualified for an outplacement offer either. The employer, the employee, or both parties may terminate the employment agreement mutually. In either scenario, the employee is entitled to notice and indemnity, while the employer is entitled to a notice period.

Termination in Belgium

Severance Pay in Belgium

• Severance pay is determined by the duration of the notice period that should have been observed in the event of dismissal without a notice period.
• For instance, it should be the equivalent of three months' salary if the notice period is three months.

Employees or Contractors in Belgium

• Full-time workers are preferred over independent contractors in Belgium. Such employees are completely favored by Belgian employment legislation, and the expense of firing a full-time employee is high.
• Depending on the employee's degree of seniority and length of service to the company, the severance package may involve paying wages for several months when an employee is let go.
• Typically, skilled and experienced workers are temporarily replaced by contracted workers. Contractors give the business flexibility in personnel and make payroll processing easier.
• Many people are converting to contract-based work to lower their tax burden due to the high tax rates levied on full-time employees. However, misclassifying an employee as a contractor or vice-versa may attract a hefty penalty.
• There are more chances for contractors in Belgium, thanks to the rigorous employment rules.