Remote’s guide to employing in

Belgium
belgium flag

Make employment in Belgium easy. Let us handle payroll, benefits, taxes, compliance, and even stock options for your team in Belgium, all in one easy-to-use platform.

Services available in this country:
Employer of Record ProductContractor Management
  • Capital City

    Brussels

  • Currency

    Euro (€, EUR)

  • Languages

    Dutch, French, and German

  • Population size

    11,492,641

Services available in this country:
Employer of Record ProductContractor Management
A row of buildings in brussels, belgium.

Employment termination in Belgium

Termination process

Workers can have their employment terminated by the employer, provided there are fair grounds for dismissal provided. These include:

  • Employee's capability or qualifications for performing work of the kind the employee was employed to do

  • Employee conduct

  • Employee retirement

  • Employee redundancy

  • Employee inability to continue working in a position without contravening statutory duty or restriction

  • Other substantial reasons justifying dismissal


Terminations are only considered lawful when they’re due to factors regarding employee capability or an employer’s need to retain a worker’s services.

Notice period

In Belgium, the notice period required varies based on the length of employment:

Employer

Employee

0 to less than 3 months

1 week

1 week

3 to less than 4 months

3 weeks

2 weeks

4 to less than 5 months

4 weeks

2 weeks

5 to less than 6 months

5 weeks

2 weeks

6 to less than 9 months

6 weeks

3 weeks

9 to less than 12 months

7 weeks

3 weeks

12 to less than 15 months

8 weeks

4 weeks

15 to less than 18 months

9 weeks

4 weeks

18 to less than 21 months

10 weeks

5 weeks

21 to less than 24 months

11 weeks

5 weeks

2 years to less than 3 years

12 weeks

6 weeks

3 years to less than 4 years

13 weeks

6 weeks

4 years to less than 5 years

15 weeks

7 weeks

5 years to less than 6 years

18 weeks

9 weeks

6 years to less than 7 years

21 weeks

10 weeks

7 years to less than 8 years

24 weeks

12 weeks

8 years to less than 9 years

27 weeks

13 weeks

9 years to less than 10 years

30 weeks

13 weeks

10 years to less than 11 years

33 weeks

13 weeks

11 years to less than 12 years

36 weeks

13 weeks

12 years to less than 13 years

39 weeks

13 weeks

13 years to less than 14 years

42 weeks

13 weeks

14 years to less than 15 years

45 weeks

13 weeks

15 years to less than 16 years

48 weeks

13 weeks

16 years to less than 17 years

51 weeks

13 weeks

17 years to less than 18 years

54 weeks

13 weeks

18 years to less than 19 years

57 weeks

13 weeks

19 years to less than 20 years

60 weeks

13 weeks

20 years to less than 21 years

62 weeks

13 weeks

21 years to less than 22 years

63 weeks

13 weeks

22 years to less than 23 years

64 weeks

13 weeks

23 years to less than 24 years

65 weeks

13 weeks

24 years to less than 25 years

66 weeks

13 weeks

25 years and greater

1 week/year started

13 weeks

Probation periods

There is no probation period in Belgium. Probation cannot be added in the employment agreement, it has no legal value.The normal dismissal procedures should be used during the beginning of the employment contract, with the specificity that the employee does not have the right to request the communication of the reason for the dismissal if the dismissal takes place within 6 months after the start of the employment contract. He will also not be entitled to an outplacement offer. The termination of the work agreement can be initiated by the employer (in which case a notice period and an indemnity is due to the employee), by the employee (a notice period is due to the employer) or by on a mutual agreement.