How long is annual leave in Belgium?

Full-time employees in Belgium, operating on a 5-day workweek, are entitled to 20 vacation days per year, based on full-time employment throughout the entire vacation service year. This entitlement can be enhanced by any relevant Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Effective January 1, 2023, there is a significant change in the annual paid leave policy. Under the new rules, if an employee becomes sick during their holiday, they no longer lose those holiday days and can take them at a future time.

Employers often provide additional "extra-legal vacation days" to employees. The standard definition of full-time employment in Belgium is a 38-hour workweek. If an employee works 40 hours per week consistently, an extra 12 days of leave should be provided.

How is annual leave accrued in Belgium?

Belgian law stipulates that statutory annual leave follows a "use it or lose it" approach, meaning it cannot be carried over or paid out. The only exception applies to employees who could not reasonably take their remaining leave before the year-end.

Non-statutory leave days, on the other hand, can be carried over to the next calendar year. This carry-over is subject to the terms outlined in the employment agreement, company policies, rules, or practices.

What is the carry-over policy for annual leave in Belgium?

In Belgium, employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 statutory vacation days each year. Employers must ensure that these days are used within the calendar year, as Belgian legislation does not allow statutory annual leave days to be carried over to the next year or paid out. These days must be utilized within the same calendar year unless an employee is unable to reasonably use their remaining leave before the year's end.

However, non-statutory leave days can be carried over to the following calendar year, depending on the specifics of the employment agreement and the company's policies, rules, or practices.

What is the process to request annual leave in Belgium?

In Belgium, the process for requesting annual leave involves the following steps:

1. The supported employee must submit their Paid Time Off (PTO) request in our Global Work Platform™.

2. The supported employee's manager needs to approve the request.

3. The dates for vacation days must be agreed upon in advance with Velocity Global Belgium.

Is time off usage required in set increments in Belgium?

No, in Belgium, time off usage is not required to be in set increments.

Is unlimited PTO an option in Belgium, and how can it be accommodated?

Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) can be accommodated in Belgium, but it is uncommon to assign unlimited PTO to employees.

Is it necessary to track leave accrual on employee payslips in Belgium?

In Belgium, it is not necessary to track leave accrual on employee payslips. Paid time off (PTO) days only impact the meal voucher entitlement for that specific month. Each worked day entitles the employee to 1 meal voucher. If the employee did not work, they are not entitled to a meal voucher for that day.