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Discover global hiring strategies from leading recruitment platforms
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Speed up your global expansion! Expand smartly in 150+ countries with the #1 rated EOR globally.
Explore Multiplier EOR
Your guide to the employment landscape, working customs and local labor laws in Belgium.
Capital
Brussels
Currency
Euro
Languages
Dutch, German, French
GDP per Capita
$54,770.02
Employer Tax
27%
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
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:
Local: 1
World: 81
Local: 2
World: 167
Local: 3
World: 231
Local: 4
World: 258
Local: 5
World: 407
The salaries of some of the popular jobs in Belgium are listed below:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (EUR) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Financial Manager | 12,000 | 13,142 |
| Accountant | 4,510 | 4,939 |
| Graphic Designer | 4,060 | 4,446 |
| Business Analyst | 7,720 | 8,455 |
| Project Manager | 6,980 | 7,644 |
| Sales Manager | 10,500 | 11,499 |
| Developer/Programmer | 6,100 | 6,680 |
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).
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.
There is no statutory law for probation periods in Belgium.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | National Holiday |
| 1 Apr | Easter Monday | National Holiday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | National Holiday |
| 9 May | Ascension Day | National Holiday |
| 20 May | Whit Monday | National Holiday |
| 21 Jul | National Day | National Holiday |
| 15 Aug | Assumption Day | National Holiday |
| 1 Nov | All Saints’ Day | National Holiday |
| 11 Nov | Armistice Day | National Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| Type of leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 24 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 30 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 20 weeks | Yes |
Leave Compliance
Payroll cycle
The payroll cycle is set once a month, and salaries are usually paid at the end of the month.
Minimum wage
As of 2023, the minimum wage set by law in Belgium is €1,955 per month.
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.
The employer’s payroll tax is at 27% for social security.
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.
| Income Group | Tax Rate |
| 0 – 15,200 | 25% |
| 15,200 – 26,830 | 40% |
| 26,830 – 46,440 | 45% |
| Above 46,440 | 50% |
Belgium follows a standard VAT of 21%.
Most companies pay the 13th month salary as a bonus to their employees, at the end of the year, before Christmas.
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 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.
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.
Belgium allows the citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to work freely in the country. A work and/or residence permit is needed for other citizens to work in the country.
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