Belgian labor laws stipulate a mandated minimum wage for all workers. The minimum wage, which is one the highest in the EU, is reviewed bi-annually to sync with existing price levels.

Belgium’s minimum wage was raised in 2021. The national minimum wage in Belgium now remains fixed at 1625.7 EURO per month.

For customers of Remote, all employee payments will be made in equal monthly installments on or before the last working day of each calendar month, payable in arrears.

Note that by Belgian law, the employer has to pay an additional 13th month with the December salary payment. This is only mandatory for employees that have been employed by the company for at least half a year (i.e. start date as of July 1st of the current year). It is relatively common for employers to decide to pay the 13 month payment to everyone regardless.

The employee's contribution to social security taxes is set at 13.07% of the gross salary.

The employer’s cost is between 25-27% depending on the date the employee was hired.

Belgian social security contributions cover:

• Old-age and survivor’s pensions
• Unemployment Insurance
• Insurance for occupational diseases
• Family allowances
• Sickness and disability benefits

We can help you get a new employee started in Belgium fast. The minimum onboarding time we need is only 9 working days.

Our team ensures your employees are onboarded and paid as quickly as possible while keeping your business compliant with all local employment legislation. The minimum onboarding time begins after the employee submits all required information onto the Remote platform. The onboarding timeline is also dependent upon registration with local authorities.

For all non-nationals of the country of employment, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) will add three extra days to the total time to onboard. There may be extra time required if we need to follow-up on the right to work assessment.

Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual first day of employment. Remote has a payroll cut-off date of the 10th of the month unless otherwise specified.

Employees are entitled to 20 days if they work 5 days a week and 24 days if they work 6 days a week

Maternity leave is 15 weeks long. The mother must take a minimum of 1 week before the expected due date and can take up to a maximum of 6 weeks of leave before the due date.

Then the woman will take a mandatory 9 weeks which starts from the date of the birth of the child.

Women who have twins (or multiple births) will be entitled to an additional 2 weeks of maternity leave.

Belgium’s Health Insurance Fund pays for this parental leave as follows:

• 82% of the salary for the first 30 days of the leave
• 75% of the salary (maximum 106.9, EUR per day) from the 31st day onwards

Paternity Leave is 15 days that can be taken continuously or separately.

The employer will pay the first 3 days of the leave and the remaining period is paid by the Health Insurance Fund at a rate of 82% of the regular pay of the gross salary of the employee.

Parental leave can start from any time after the birth of the child and be taken as follows:

• A four month period taken consecutively
• Various periods broken into at least one month each (adding up to four months)
• Reduced working hours to 80% for a maximum of 20 months
• Reduced working hours to 50% for a maximum of eight months
• Half a day per week or one full day every two weeks (for a maximum of 40 months)

• Employees are entitled to a paid leave of absence to attend to unforeseen circumstances or civil obligations, provided they inform their employer in advance or as soon as reasonably possible.
• Likewise, employees can take up to 10 days of paid leave to handle emergencies, family issues, etc., provided they reach an agreement with their employer regarding how the leave will vest.