Staff welfare - Belgium

Updated 12/2012

Legal requirements

Social rules

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

The law of 10 May 2007 prohibits discrimination based on age, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, wealth, religious or philosophical beliefs, political convictions, language, current or future health status, disability, physical or genetic characteristics or social origin.

Law striving to combat certain forms of discrimination

The Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Institute for Equality of the Sexes are the competent bodies for climate and the air.

Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism
Institute for Equality of the Sexes

Labour Law

Protection of workers

It is the responsibility of every employer to promote well-being within its company, from risk prevention and collective and individual means of protection, to training and information for workers.

The following institutions have been established to monitor worker welfare:

Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
BeSWIC - the Belgian Safe Work Information Centre

Social security covers the following risks:

Unemployment, via the National Employment Office (NEO);
Pensions, via the National Pension Office (NPO);
Illness, via the worker's mutual insurance company;
Disability, via the worker's mutual insurance company;
Family allowance, via the employer's family allowance fund;
Occupational illness (occupational illness fund);
Accidents at work (fund for accidents at work).
National employment office
National pension office
National Illness and Invalidity Insurance Institution
National Office for Family Allowances for Wage Earners
Occupational illness fund
Fund for accidents at work

The National Social Security Office (NSSO) collects and administers payroll taxes and employment taxes.

National Social Security Office

Mandatory social rules complete the requirements related to managing staff.

Staff — Belgium

Businesses are free to go beyond the minimum social legal requirements at their own initiative.

Sustainability — Belgium

Administrative procedures

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

The Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Institute for Equality of the Sexes may be consulted in the event of a dispute involving discrimination.

Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism
Institute for Equality of the Sexes

Social security

The immediate declaration of employment or DIMONA is an electronic message used by employers to notify the NSSO of employees joining and leaving its staff.

DIMONA: How do I enter a notification?
DIMONA and the human resources file
Declarations, contributions and requirements - NSSO

Employers are required to insure their employees against the risk of accidents in the workplace as of the first day on the job. The Fund for accidents at work verifies compliance with this regulation.

Fund for accidents at work

As an employer, you are required to report any accident likely to be subject to laws on occupational accidents to the insurer you have selected to cover the risk.

Types of accidents to be reported
Timeframe for accident reporting
Procedure to follow
Report of accident at work [125 KB]

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Staff welfare - Belgium

Legal requirements

Social rules

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

Labour Law

Protection of workers

Administrative procedures

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

Social security

Still need help?

Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

Staff welfare - Belgium

Legal requirements

Social rules

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

Labour Law

Protection of workers

Administrative procedures

Non-discrimination, equal opportunity and gender equality

Social security

Legal texts

Key documents

Still need help?

Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points