Looking for an Employer of Record in Belgium? Here’s what you need to know

Knowing how best to hire and pay employees in Belgium can be difficult. Many global companies use Employers of Record to hire global talent, but EORs in Belgium may not be permitted. 

Instead, companies can use a workforce management platform, like Payoneer Workforce Management, to help simplify the process. 

Find out more about Payoneer Workforce Management, or keep reading to learn about managing your Belgium payroll.

How to hire employees in Belgium

Companies looking to hire and pay employees in Belgium have three key options:

1. Set up a local entity: Companies can register a local subsidiary to employ Belgian workers, but this takes a lot of time and effort.

2. Hire independent contractors: Working with independent contractors offers flexibility and minimizes compliance responsibilities. However, the roles shouldn’t resemble an employee-employer relationship, or you risk misclassification or penalties.

3. Use a workforce management platform: You can hire local talent using a workforce management platform, which helps with onboarding, payroll, and compliance.

Payoneer Workforce Management is a great workforce management platform option. We can assist you with onboarding, payroll and setting up localized benefits as per local laws and requirements.

How to onboard employees in Belgium

Onboarding is a vital part of the process when you make a new hire. It’s your chance to set the new employee up for the greatest success, as well as fulfill your legal and regulatory obligations.

Here are some essential onboarding elements to consider.  

• Payroll and benefits setup: Ensure that all local hires are properly added to payroll systems and enrolled in the required benefits, as per local employment rules.
• Device preparation and delivery: Provide the new employee with the appropriate equipment and ensure their devices are configured so they can begin working smoothly.
• New‑hire orientation: Schedule an introductory session during the first week to walk the employee through company policies, onboarding steps, and the expectations of their new role.
• Team and organizational introductions: Arrange dedicated time for the local hire to meet their teammates and connect with colleagues across the wider organization.

Payoneer Workforce Management enables companies to compliantly engage talent across borders through its technology platform.

Pay employees in Belgium

The payout currency in Belgium is the euro (EUR). Salaries have to be paid by the 7th day of the following month at the latest, but are usually paid before the end of the current month. 

Here are some other things to bear in mind when setting up your Belgium payroll.

• Minimum wage: The minimum wage in Belgium is EUR 2,242.81 per month for full-time workers aged 21 and above, based on a 38-hour workweek. This figure can vary slightly depending on the sector and region. 
• Annual bonus: Employees receive a 13th-month bonus (equivalent to 1 month’s salary), unless they have been at the company for less than 6 months. If they’ve been at the company for more than 6 months but less than 1 year, the bonus is prorated.
• Holiday bonus: A holiday bonus, equal to 92% of the monthly salary, is paid out in June to all employees who’ve been at the company for at least 1 year. If the employee has been working for less than 1 year, the bonus is prorated. 

Income tax

In Belgium, employee income tax is progressive and ranges from 25% to 50%, depending on income levels. The tax brackets are as follows:

Other deductions

As part of the Belgium payroll process, employers also need to deduct social security contributions. This covers healthcare, pensions, unemployment benefits, family allowances, disability benefits, work injury benefits, and sickness benefits. 

Additionally, Belgium operates a mandatory health insurance system, ensuring universal coverage for all residents. Individuals are required to enroll with a health insurance fund of their choice, which provides reimbursements for medical expenses. This system is funded through social security contributions, guaranteeing access to healthcare for everyone. 

With Payoneer Workforce Management, our unified, all-in-one platform gives you a single dashboard to manage the entire global workforce and enables you to pay contractors in just a few clicks.

Employment laws in Belgium

Companies employing workers in any country must comply with all local laws and regulations. Important laws to be aware of when hiring in Belgium include:

• Working hours: Employees work 38 to 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day.
• Overtime hours: Employees can work up to 11 hours per day or 50 hours per week, but only in specific circumstances. 
• Overtime pay: Employees should receive 50% extra salary for overtime on Mondays through Saturdays, and 100% for overtime on Sundays and public holidays. There is no compensatory time off.
• Voluntary overtime: Employees can also volunteer to work an additional 120 hours per calendar year, but this must be agreed to in writing.

You can get assistance to stay compliant with Belgium payroll and labor laws by using Payoneer Workforce Management’s infrastructure.

Minimum wage in Belgium

As of 2025, the minimum wage in Belgium is EUR 2,242.81 per month for full-time workers aged 21 and above, based on a 38-hour workweek. 

This figure can vary slightly depending on the sector and region. It’s a good idea to check government websites regularly to stay compliant.

Employment contracts in Belgium

The Belgian law on employment contracts sets out the rules for different workers:

• Blue-collar workers
• Employees
• Sales representatives
• Domestic workers

It’s essential to determine exactly what type of employment contract is involved to apply the correct regulations.

However, in general, an employment contract should contain:

• Contract type, start date, and duration (if applicable)
• Nature of the work
• Working hours
• Vacation policy
• Salary, benefits, and any additional bonuses or compensation
• How the contract can be terminated, including notice periods and severance pay

Payoneer Workforce Management enables you to onboard talent quickly and securely with localized contracts and payroll.

Leave policy in Belgium

Belgium specifies what leave employers must provide for their employees, including vacation time, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave.

Vacation and public holidays

Employees are entitled to the statutory minimum of 20 vacation days per year, though this only applies if the employee worked the full previous calendar year. All holidays have to be taken before the end of the year and cannot be carried over. Any unused leave is paid out in December.

Employees are also entitled to 10 public holidays per year.

Sick leave

The employer pays for up to 30 days of sick leave. After that, payment is made by the employee’s sickness fund (mutualité/mutualiteit).

Parental leave

Maternity leave lasts 15 weeks, of which a maximum of 6 weeks may be taken before childbirth (1 week before childbirth is mandatory). In the event of multiple births, maternity leave may be extended by 2 weeks or more in certain cases. Paternity leave amounts to 20 days.

Other leave

Employees can take 10 days of paid compassionate leave. The first 3 days must be taken between the day of death and the funeral. The remaining 7 days may be taken up to 1 year after the death.

Employees are also entitled to 3 days’ leave for their wedding.

Work permit in Belgium

The rules for acquiring a work permit in Belgium differ based on the employee’s country of origin.

For more information about you may check the government website.

Background check in Belgium

Employers may conduct background checks prior to hiring, depending on the role. These may include:

• Criminal record checks
• Employment history
• Education verification
• Social media screening

Employee consent is typically required, and employers must disclose what information is being checked.

Employment termination in Belgium

Termination is a complicated process and needs to be handled delicately on a case-by-case basis. Terminations are possible in the following scenarios:

• Employee resignation
• Mutual agreement between the employee and the employer
• Termination by the employer due to misconduct, performance issues, absence without leave, etc

Termination notice

The following notice periods apply before termination:

Severance pay

Severance pay equals the salary for the duration of the notice period. The employee can either work through the notice period, receiving their monthly salary, or the notice period can be waived, in which case you pay an indemnity equal to the salary for the notice period weeks.

In both cases, 13th-month and holiday pay have to be paid.

Company registration in Belgium

Companies looking to hire and pay employees in Belgium can choose to register their company in the country. To do this, you need to understand the business structures available to you and the associated legal obligations. Details on how to register a company can be found on the government website.

However, using a workforce management platform is generally an effective option for hiring talent. Payoneer Workforce Management enables compliant onboarding of talent in 160+ countries, without having to set up a legal entity.

PEO in Belgium

A PEO is designed to help you with HR and admin tasks for employees you already employ through your local entity.

While some countries allow the use of EORs, in Belgium, companies should use compliant workforce management solutions. These platforms help manage HR and compliance processes for companies without a local entity. This is invaluable for international companies seeking global talent.

Payoneer Workforce Management services in Belgium

Working with a partner like Payoneer Workforce Management helps support global operations and access local talent. 

With our unified platform, you can get assistance with:

• Employment contracts
• Onboarding
• Payroll in 70 currencies
• Local compliance
• Benefits administration
• Timesheets
• Offboarding and more

Book a demo to find out more.

FAQs

1) Are EORs legal in Belgium?

The usage of an EOR in Belgium may not be permitted. However, companies can use a workforce management platform like Payoneer Workforce Management, which enables compliant onboarding of talent in 160+ countries without having to set up a legal entity.

2) How much does it cost to hire Belgian talent?

The employer cost may vary depending on the salary, regions and other elements. Please use our cost calculator tool for an employment cost estimation.

3) Why hire Belgian talent through a workforce management platform?

Using an Employer of Record in Belgium may not be applicable, so you may use Payoneer Workforce Management instead, which allows you to onboard and pay employees across the globe in 70+ currencies. Get in touch for more details.