Belgium: Employment and HR

Employers planning workforce reductions in Australia and New Zealand face distinct legal frameworks that require careful navigation. While both jurisdictions mandate genuine business reasons and employee consultation, critical differences in timing, process requirements, and redeployment obligations can significantly impact restructuring outcomes. Understanding these nuances is essential for organizations managing cross-border redundancy programs to minimize legal risk and operational disruption.

This regional report examines recent labour law changes across the Americas, highlighting key developments in workforce planning, employment status classification, and regulatory reforms. From Argentina's new hiring incentives to working time reductions in Brazil and Mexico, discover how these legislative shifts are reshaping employment practices and compliance requirements throughout the region.

Starting September 1, 2026, employers in the Flemish Region will face a new EUR 180 fee for each single permit application, adding to the existing federal charge and bringing the total cost to EUR 332 per application. This regional retribution covers administrative processing costs and applies to both initial applications and renewals, with no refunds for refused applications. Employers planning to submit applications should consider doing so before the September deadline to avoid the additional expense.

The EU Pay Transparency Directive mandates that employers with over 100 workers regularly report detailed gender pay gap information, with strict timelines to address disparities of 5% or more. The Directive also grants employees and job candidates significant pay transparency rights, including access to salary ranges and comparative pay data. This interactive map tracks the transposition status of the Directive across European Member States as the June 2026 deadline approaches.

Lawmakers in Victoria, the UK, and the US are imposing new restrictions on non-disclosure agreements in employment contexts, particularly those involving workplace sexual harassment and discrimination. These changes require employers to rethink how they use confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements, with some jurisdictions now giving workers the right to terminate NDAs or rendering certain provisions void. Understanding these evolving legal frameworks is essential for multinational employers seeking

As political polarisation and social media increasingly blur the lines between personal and professional life, employers face mounting pressure to address hate speech and harmful conduct in the workplace.

Employees working across borders often continue their existing pension schemes during temporary foreign employment, but this seemingly straightforward practice raises critical tax considerations that are frequently overlooked. When foreign pension contributions fail to meet specific exemption criteria under Belgian tax law, they may be treated as taxable income, potentially leading to economic double taxation at the payment stage. Recent guidance from Dutch tax authorities on their "balance scheme" mechanis

Recent labor law reforms in Belgium aim to modernize and increase flexibility in the legal framework, impacting the entire employment relationship cycle from working time organization to human resources management. This thematic analysis examines key changes in employee benefits and pension bonus plans, highlighting practical implications for businesses navigating the government's push toward more attractive and transparent compensation policies.

Belgium's 2025-2029 pension reform introduces significant changes to early retirement eligibility and implements a new bonus-malus system designed to incentivize longer working careers. The reforms increase the minimum working days required for pensionable years from 104 to 156 FTE days and establish financial rewards for postponing retirement beyond statutory age while penalizing early retirement with insufficient career years.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup captivates fans worldwide, employers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face a unique workplace challenge: employees arriving exhausted after late-night matches. This analysis examines whether falling asleep at work due to World Cup-related fatigue constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal, exploring the legal frameworks and thresholds for gross misconduct in each jurisdiction. The article also addresses critical data protection risks that arise when fatigued employ

Restructuring exercises in Malaysia, Singapore and India require careful attention to legal compliance, employee communication and procedural fairness. Through analysis of recent case law including Lazada, AirAsia X and Salunkhe decisions, this article examines how poor execution can trigger regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage and costly reinstatement orders.

Stock options and share awards have become integral components of senior employee compensation packages, but what happens to these equity-based benefits when employment ends? This comprehensive analysis examines how 29 countries worldwide handle the inclusion of stock options, RSUs, and other share awards in severance pay calculations, revealing significant variations in legal approaches and employer obligations.