Work permit

Foreign workers wishing to work in Belgium must be in possession of a work permit. This does not apply to citizens of European Economic Area Member States.

There are three types of work permit:

•    a type A work permit, valid for all salaried professions with all employers and for an unlimited period;
•    a type B work permit, valid with a single employer and limited to one year;
•    a type C work permit, valid for all salaried professions with all employers for a limited period (one year, and renewable).

Each region has its own work permit application procedure. Click here for more information on work permits in Flanders (in English), Wallonia (in French) and Brussels (in English).

Working Terms & Conditions

Belgian employment policy is based on consultation between the social partners. This kind of collaboration between employers and workers has resulted in a dynamic, flexible and protected workforce (Belgian workers enjoy excellent protection from unemployment and illness). Social consultation offers multiple benefits, such as wage cost control, increased workforce productivity and guaranteed peaceful industrial relations.
In Belgium, the legal working week is 38 hours . Apart from the legal working week, enterprises may alter working time in line with their companies' requirements. Workers may work appropriately remunerated overtime.

Visit the website of the Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue in French or Dutch for more information on working conditions in Belgium.

Working as a student

To work as a student, you must be aged at least 15 (in fact, you must no longer be liable to remain in full-time education) and follow an approved course of education.

The employed student and the employer must conclude a written fixed term contract, known as the student employment contract. Foreign students coming from a country in the European Economic Area (or from Switzerland ) have the same rights and obligations as Belgian students. However, they do not necessarily have to study or live in Belgium.

Foreign students coming from a country outside the European Economic Area must follow an approved course of education in Belgium and be in possession of a valid residence permit. During the Christmas, Easter and summer college holidays, they are exempt from the requirement to possess a work permit. If they want to work outside these colleges holiday periods, they must have a type C work permit.

You can find more info on student jobs on the site of the Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue (in French or Dutch).

Training

Vocational placement and vocational training are organized by regional or Community organizations. These public services can give you information about all the types of training which are available to you. The following are the public services operating in each region:

•    FOREM (in French) in Wallonia;
•    Bruxelles Formation (in French) is responsible for the vocational training of French speakers in the Brussels-Capital Region;
•    The VDAB (in Dutch) provides services for Dutch speakers living in Brussels;
•    VDAB (in Dutch) in Flanders;
•    the Employment Agency (Arbeitsamt) (in German) in the German-speaking Community.

Benefits

As well as free training, jobseekers following recognized training courses can receive other benefits such as:

•    training allowances, in addition to their unemployment benefits;
•    assistance with travel costs;
•    assistance with childcare.

Find a Job

The placement of jobseekers is organized by regional public services:

•    FOREM (in French) in the Walloon Region
•    Actiris (in French or in Dutch) in the Brussels-Capital Region
•    VDAB (in English) in the Flemish Region
•    Arbeitsamt (in English) for the German-speaking Community

Student jobs:

Yourjob

Jobs.ie