Belgium: Employee Benefits & Compensation

Belgium's employment law landscape is undergoing significant changes with the reintroduction of probationary-like provisions and new notice period caps. Starting June 1, 2026, employers and employees will navigate a one-week notice period during the first six months of employment, while long-tenured workers will see their maximum notice period capped at 52 weeks after 17 years of service.

Recent labor law reforms in Belgium aim to modernize and increase flexibility in the legal framework, impacting the entire employment relationship cycle from working time organization to human resources management. This thematic analysis examines key changes in employee benefits and pension bonus plans, highlighting practical implications for businesses navigating the government's push toward more attractive and transparent compensation policies.

Recent reforms to Belgian labor law reflect a clear drive toward modernization and flexibility in the legal framework. These changes have concrete implications for the entire employment relationship cycle...

On 30 December 2025, the Belgian Official Gazette published the Act of 19 December 2025 implementing a strengthened return-to-work policy in case of work incapacity, and the Royal Decree of 17 December 2025...

In response to a question posed by a Member of Parliament (MEP) back in October, and against a backdrop of uneven progress on national implementation...

On 25 November 2025, the De Wever government reached an agreement on the budget for the period 2025–2029. One of the key points of this agreement is the adjustment of the way indexation will be applied in the years 2026 and 2028.

Employers worldwide are required to record staff working hours, but these obligations vary and often come with country-specific challenges.

The centrepiece of the Directive is a requirement that all employers with more than 100 workers must regularly report detailed information regarding the organisation's gender pay gap.

On 9 May 2025, the Flemish government approved the Flemish Minister for Work's new concept note setting out a tightened and integrated labour migration policy based on 10 core principles.