Belgium SPF Emploi Actualités

Belgium Caregiver Leave Duration Increases From July 2026

Belgium's Law of March 22, 2026 (published April 1, 2026) substantially expands caregiver leave entitlements effective July 1, 2026. Recognized caregivers can now claim up to 6 months of full work contract suspension per person requiring assistance (doubled from 3 months), 12 months of half-time career reduction (up from 6 months), or 30 months of one-fifth career reduction. With employer agreement, full and half-time leave may be taken in shorter segmented periods (monthly or weekly blocks), providing greater flexibility than the prior regime.

Belgium Requires Online Bonus Plan Submissions by End of April

SPF Emploi advises Belgian employers that bonus plans covering a full calendar year reference period must be submitted by the end of April 2026. In 2025, approximately 87% of adhesion-act bonus plans were submitted online through www.plansbonus.be. Electronic submission provides advantages including automatic form validation, faster transmission to the relevant joint committee (average 14 days), and email notifications on dossier progress. Company collective agreements, denunciations, and adhesions may also be transmitted via www.transfert.emploi.belgique.be.

New Voluntary Overtime Rules Effective 1 April 2026

Belgium is introducing a new structural voluntary overtime regime effective 1 April 2026. Under this system, workers may perform up to 360 hours of voluntary overtime per year without requiring a reason or compensatory rest. Of these 360 hours, 240 hours will carry no overtime premium, no ONSS (social security) contributions, and no personal income tax. The Horeca sector receives an expanded contingent of 450 hours, with 360 hours exempt from overtime premiums. Administrative procedures are simplified with written worker agreements now valid for one year instead of six months, with tacit renewal. Part-time workers face new restrictions: they can only perform voluntary overtime if there is a temporary workload increase and they have already worked part-time for at least three years.