Today, on the eve of Labour Day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment David Clarinval secured a series of agreements in the Council of Ministers and Parliament on his labour market reforms. Following the time-limiting of unemployment benefits adopted in 2025, it is now the turn of the major structural labour market reforms to be voted on. In addition, David Clarinval obtained agreement at second reading on the extension of flexi-jobs in the Council of Ministers. The Minister of Employment welcomes this double success, which marks a profound modernisation of Belgian labour law.
- An agreement on flexi-jobs in the Council of Ministers
This morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment David Clarinval secured the whole government's agreement on extending flexi-jobs to all sectors. A major step forward that meets strong demand from employers, who see it as an essential lever for finding the workforce they need more easily, and from those who wish to work more in order to earn more.
Wider access to all sectors
Flexi-jobs are now open to all sectors, private and public alike, subject to the rules governing access to protected professions, including care roles. Social partners retain the ability to exclude or regulate flexi-jobs through an opt-out mechanism, with the possibility of a later opt-in.
The maximum annual income for a flexi-jobber has already been raised to €18,000, a 50% increase on the previous €12,000 cap, a measure that significantly boosts the appeal of the scheme for workers. The employer contribution remains set at 28%.
More flexibility for full-time employees
The ban on holding a flexi-job with a company linked to one's employer is being lifted for full-time employees, a measure that particularly takes into account the realities of the hospitality sector.
One year after the law comes into force, joint committees will have to submit an assessment to the Minister of Employment on the use of flexi-jobs in their sector.
David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment: "With this flexi-job reform, I am responding to demand from the ground. Many workers want to work more, while many employers struggle to find staff. By extending this system to all sectors and raising the cap to €18,000, we are giving a concrete answer to these demands."
- Green light for a series of major labour law reforms
Parliament today voted in plenary session on a series of major labour law reforms, delivering on the federal government's commitments set out in the coalition agreement.
- Night work: a reform for competitiveness
Belgium was one of the last European countries to maintain a general ban on night work. This anomaly severely undermined our competitiveness: the Central Economic Council confirms that logistics centres relocated to neighbouring countries, creating some 20,000 jobs there. If Belgium reached the European average for employment in this sector, this would represent 8,464 additional jobs on our territory.
The general ban on night work is now being lifted in all sectors. For the retail, logistics and e-commerce sectors, specific rules ensure a balance between flexibility and protection:
- Night is defined as the period between 11pm and 6am, in accordance with ILO Convention No. 171.
- The rights of workers already in post remain fully protected, and their purchasing power is not affected.
- The minimum premium provided for under Collective Bargaining Agreement No. 49 is maintained and guaranteed by law.
- Businesses can introduce night work without prohibitive extra costs, making Belgium attractive again for enterprise and investment.
- Administrative simplification and flexible working time
Minister Clarinval is putting an end to overly complex work regulations: companies will now be able to set out a working time framework in their regulations, rather than listing every possible schedule. This mechanism, already in place for part-time workers with variable hours, is being extended to all employees.
In addition, the minimum one-third rule for part-time workers is being lowered to one-tenth of a full-time weekly schedule, opening the door to more flexible jobs suited to actual needs.
- 360 voluntary overtime hours, 240 of which gross equals net
The system of voluntary overtime is being extended and made permanent, continuing the 120-hour recovery scheme:
- 360 voluntary overtime hours per year across all sectors, with no justification needed or compensatory rest.
- For 240 of these hours: gross equals net (no social security contributions or income tax). The worker therefore keeps everything they earn.
- In hospitality: 450 hours, 360 of which without pay premium and with gross equal to net.
- The individual agreement is simplified: concluded for 1 year, tacitly renewed, and terminable at any time with 1 month's notice.
- Capping the notice period at 52 weeks
From 17 years of seniority onwards, the notice period will be capped at 52 weeks. This reform serves a twofold purpose.
- For workers: encouraging mobility and career transitions. Very long notice periods can paradoxically be a hindrance, as workers hesitate to change employer for fear of losing accumulated protection, sometimes to the detriment of their professional development.
- For employers: improving predictability and reducing the risk associated with hiring experienced profiles, thereby encouraging the recruitment of older workers.
- As a reminder: existing contracts are not affected. Only new contracts are concerned.
- Student work from age 15 for all young people
During this legislature, the government has already permanently raised the number of student work hours to 650. Income from this work is tax-free up to €15,585.71 (2025 amount). As a reminder, student work is not subject to ordinary social security contributions but to “solidarity contributions”. These amount to 5.42% for employers and 2.71% for students.
Meanwhile, Minister Clarinval has delivered on the third condition set out in the coalition agreement: access to student work from age 15. Today, this is only possible for young people no longer subject to full-time compulsory schooling (i.e. those in the third year of secondary school). This condition will be scrapped by a royal decree to be published in the Official Gazette on 4 May 2026: all young people aged 15 and over will therefore be able to take up student work. Specific protective measures are nevertheless provided for this category.
A second royal decree, to be published in the coming days, will allow young people aged 16 and over to work on Sundays and public holidays in retail, care and nursing homes, as well as lifeguards at the coast, in public swimming pools or bathing ponds. This latter measure responds to requests from coastal municipalities for enough lifeguards during school holidays and the summer season, thereby enhancing safety during periods of high attendance.
David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment “With these reforms we are correcting Belgium's labour market, which was far too rigid. Eagerly awaited by employers and workers alike, they provide a concrete response to realities on the ground. They allow those who wish to work more to do so, and make our labour market more dynamic and more competitive. With these reforms, our country is finally ready for the 21e century.”