Belgium
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- Capital City
Brussels
- Currency
Euro (€, EUR)
- Languages
Dutch, French, and German
- Population size
11,492,641
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.