Last updated on January 30, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Belgium

Vacation Leave Quota

At least 20 days

The number of days of annual leave to which an employee is entitled for a given year, is determined in proportion to the number of days worked. Employees are entitled to 20 to 24 days of annual leave, depending on their working regime. 

Carry Over

All vacation days must taken within the 12 months in which they were allocated to an employee. It’s not permitted to carry over unused days into the period after these 12 months.

PTO payout at the termination

Employers can terminate employment contract with the granting of a notice period or terminate the employment contract immediately with a payment of an indemnity in lieu of notice.

Sick Leave in Belgium

Sick Leave

In case of illness or private accident, the employee continues to receive his/her regular salary during a period of thirty calendar days.

Family Care Leave

In order to assist a seriously ill household or family member, the employees are entitled to one of the following forms of leave:

• All employees (employed full-time or part-time) can completely suspend their services for a period of 12 months maximum per patient. These interruptions must be taken each time for periods of a minimum of one month and a maximum of 3 months
• All employees are entitled to reduce their benefits by 1/5 or 1/2 during a period of 24 months maximum per patient. These benefit reduction periods must also be taken each time in periods of a minimum of one month and a maximum of 3 months;
• All employees employed part-time whose average weekly working hours is at least equal to ¾ of the average weekly working hours of a full-time worker can reduce his or her benefits by up to half of full-time employment for a maximum period of 24 months per patient. These benefit reduction periods must also be taken each time in periods of a minimum of one month and a maximum of 3 months.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Belgium

A pregnant employee is entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave. In the case of twins (multiple pregnancy), the leave is in principle 17 weeks but it can be extended up to 19 weeks.

Maternity leave consists of two periods: the leave which is taken before the childbirth (prenatal leave or pregnancy leave) and the rest which begins from the day of childbirth (postnatal leave or childbirth leave).

Employees are forbidden to perform work during the seven-day period preceding the presumed date of delivery, and within the nine weeks which begin on the day of delivery. The remaining weeks can be taken either before or after childbirth.

In case of a stillbirth, maternity leave is granted as long as the pregnancy has lasted a minimum of 180 days from the date of conception.

The employee is required to provide her employer at the latest seven weeks before the expected date of delivery (or nine weeks when a multiple birth is expected), a medical certificate attesting to this date.

Parental Leave in Belgium

All employees are entitled to take parental leave. Employees can choose one of the following forms of parental leave:

• each employee (employed full-time or part-time) may for a period of four months completely suspend the execution of his employment contract. 
• each employee employed full-time may continue his benefits part-time for a period of eight months (part-time parental leave). The eight-month period may, at the choice of the worker, be taken in several installments. Each request must, however, relate to a period of two months or a multiple of this figure.
• each full-time employee has the right to reduce their work performance by one fifth for a period of 20 months (parental leave 1 / 5th). This 20-month period may, at the worker’s choice, be taken in several installments.
• each full-time worker has the right to reduce work performance of one tenth for a period of 40 months, subject to the employer’s agreement. This 40- month period can be taken in several installments.

Foster Parental Leave in Belgium

An employee who takes in a minor child in his family as part of a long-term foster care is entitled to an individual credit for parental leave of up to six weeks. This credit for six weeks of foster parental leave is not transferable to the other foster parent.

Adoption Leave in Belgium

An employee who adopts a minor child is entitled to an individual adoption leave credit of up to six weeks. This six-week adoption leave credit is not transferable to the other adoptive parent.

Bereavement Leave in Belgium

Employees are entitled to paid leave due to a death of a family member.

Jury Duty Leave in Belgium

Employees are entitled to paid time off to perform their legal duties.

Military Leave in Belgium

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Belgium

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Belgium for 2024

10 public holidays

Employees must have 10 paid public holidays per calendar year. Should a public holiday be a Sunday or other non-working day, the employer is obligated to provide time off in lieu (a replacement day).

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/belgium

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Belgium, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/belgium/

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Belgium, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/belgium

To learn more about laws in various countries, check out our Leave Laws page.