Is it necessary for the employment agreement to be bilingual with the native language taking precedence in Belgium?

In Belgium, employment agreements need to be bilingual, with the original Belgian language taking precedence in case of discrepancies. There are two employment agreement templates used: English & French and English & Dutch. If there are any discrepancies between the original Dutch or French version and the English translation, the Dutch or French version prevails.

Can seniority be recognized in employment agreements in Belgium? If so, in what ways and how can this be reflected in employment agreements?

Seniority can be recognized in employment agreements in Belgium in relation to the notice period and severance. The recognition of seniority impacts the length of the notice period and the amount of severance pay. This should be explicitly reflected in the terms and conditions of the employment agreement.

Can variable compensation be included in the employment agreement or should it be outlined in a separate Variable Compensation Plan in Belgium?

In Belgium, it is uncommon to include a Variable Compensation Plan within the employment agreement. Instead, the Variable Compensation Plan is typically outlined in a separate document.