Belgium
Find out key information relating to Belgium’s leave entitlements
Leave entitlement & working time regulations at a glance
Minimum Holiday Entitlement
20 days
Public Holidays
10 per year
Parental Leave
Up to 4 months per parent, partially paid
Working Week
38 hours (full time)
Sick Leave Entitlement
First month paid by the employer, then covered by insurance
Region
EMEA
ABSENCE & LEAVE
Additional information
Working patterns
In Belgium, the maximum full-time working week is 38 hours. Overtime is almost unheard of. But in the rare instances where it does happen, employees get 150% of their regular pay if they work overtime on weekdays, and 200% for weekends and public holidays. However, these rules do not apply to certain job roles.
Sick leave
Employers must pay an employee’s full salary for the first 30 days of sick leave. After 30 days, Belgium’s Health Insurance Fund takes overpayment.
Maternity and paternity leave
Maternity leave is generally set at 15 weeks, split into prenatal and postnatal leave. Belgium’s Health Insurance Fund takes care of payment. Fathers can take up to 15 days paid paternity leave, or 30 half-days. The employer pays for the first three days, after which the Health Insurance Fund takes over.