Hiring in Belgium in 2026: complete guide for employers

Hiring in Belgium: one of Europe's most complex legal frameworks

Belgian labor law is distinguished by its institutional complexity: federal legislation, sectoral collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), joint committees, and regional specificities.

Step 1: Before recruitment

• Identify the joint committee (JC) for your sector — it determines salary scales, working conditions, and sectoral benefits
• Check Dimona obligations — the declaration must be made before the first working day
• Ensure your work regulations are compliant, mandatory for any company with staff

Step 2: The employment contract

• Contract type — Permanent (default), fixed-term (max 4 successive contracts or 3 years), interim, replacement contract
• Trial period — Abolished since 2014, replaced by shortened notice period during first months
• Non-compete clause — Valid only if gross annual salary exceeds €39,353 (2026 amount)
• Extra-legal benefits — Meal vouchers, eco-vouchers, group insurance, company car

Step 3: Regional employment aids

• Wallonia — APE support, targeted ONSS reductions
• Flanders — Target group reductions, employment premium for over-55s
• Brussels — Activa Brussels, professional transition premium, Stage First

An AI agent specialized in Belgian HR can automatically verify your contract compliance and identify the employment aids you're entitled to.