From 1 January 2027, Belgium is taking a decisive step towards social justice with a thorough overhaul of the early retirement system. From now on, anyone with 42 years of effective career will be entitled to retire at 60 without penalty, regardless of status: employee, self-employed or civil servant.
This progress is based on a simple but essential principle: only years with at least 234 days of actual work will be counted in the calculation. This tightening aims to better value real career paths, so that early retirement genuinely rewards long careers and the commitment of those who started working life early.
However, the reform is not intended to be abrupt. Transitional measures will protect workers close to retirement, preserving acquired rights and avoiding penalising anyone who was almost at the end of their career when the new law comes into force. This transition period is designed to ensure a smooth shift to the new system and reassure everyone concerned.
Beyond fairness between different statuses, this reform is also a strong signal of respect for those who have actively contributed to society for many years. It simplifies access conditions, makes them more transparent and guarantees everyone the chance to fully enjoy their retirement years, at the fairest moment given their career history.
With this change, the government is clearly responding to a demand voiced for many years: that early retirement should be accessible, clear and fair for everyone. It is a major step towards a fairer system, true to the effort made by every generation of workers.