What are my employment rights?

This website explains your primary employment rights, such as: wages in the case of an accident at work, on dismissal during pregnancy, or illness, if you are the victim of violence… If you would like to know how to enforce your rights, you will find all the information you need here.

Can I arrange my residence through work?

Neither as an employee nor as a self-employed person. There are no exceptions. The only way to obtain residence is to follow the correct procedure before you arrive in Belgium. If necessary, you can return to your country of origin or a country where you have legal residence and start the procedure from there. You’ll […]

Am I allowed to work in Belgium?

If you have legal residence in Belgium, but you’re not sure if you’re allowed to work, you can find out more here. If you haven’t yet arrived in Belgium, but you would like to come to Belgium to work, you’ll find the terms and conditions here. If you are in Belgium but you have no […]

I have had an accident at work. What now?

General rules What am I entitled to? If the accident at work is proven, the insurance company or Fedris will pay you the following: What should I do? In Belgium, employers are obliged to hold insurance for accidents at work, even for employees without legal residence. There is a special government department that monitors this: […]

How can I prove that I have worked?

Tips If you have a smartphone, use it to gather evidence. To make sure you don’t lose the evidence if your smartphone is lost or stolen, store this information in the cloud.

Can I file a complaint with the inspectorate?

It is always better to take a complaint about your employer to the inspectorate, than to the police. Labour inspectors know the laws surrounding labour. They will also help you without passing your name on to Immigration Services. The police are not specialised in employment rights, so they might not be able to help you. […]

What wages am I entitled to?

General rules Minimum wages The minimum wage in Belgium also applies to underhand work and working off the books. The exact minimum wage you should receive depends on the type of work you do, your age, your qualifications and how long you have worked. The hourly wage must sometimes be higher. When you work many […]

Can I still take action against my employer if I am no longer in Belgium?

Did you work in Belgium and were your employment rights not respected? If so, you can still enforce your rights even if you are no longer in Belgium or are planning to leave Belgium. It is best to take action as soon as possible. It is obviously better to take the necessary action before you […]

If I file a complaint, will I have to stay in Belgium?

For the research it is of course important to have as much information as possible and proof to the institution or persons who follow up your file. It is also important that you remain available so that they can ask you questions if things are unclear. So make sure they can reach you by telephone, […]

Can I be fined for working off the books?

If you have legal residence and you have received benefits (unemployment, a living allowance…), you may be obliged to repay them. If you do not receive benefits, you may be fined between 800 and 8000 euros. There are three exceptions, however. This fine will not be imposed if: • You personally file a complaint with […]