Within its workforce are a highly skilled and uniquely multilingual demographic that continues to uphold the country’s reputation for high-quality products. For part-time employees, living on the minimum wage is much more difficult. Legal notice | Sick leave is available to employees in Belgium, with 30 days of pay for white-collar employees. In the UK, this might be in part thanks to the power of the living wage campaign, which has driven the discussion around the minimum wage in the country for years. Berlin's tourism authority has come under fire for its more direct approach in sending a reminder to people to obey coronavirus rules. Following the submission of all paperwork, companies can generally start operating in as little as three days. As with many countries around the world, though, the effects of COVID-19 have weighed heavily on Belgium. Multinational companies should monitor the blue-collar/white-collar distinction for changes as it is an evolving area of Belgian policy. Minimum wage should ensure that full-time workers are not poor. We use cookies to improve our service for you. Before you show up for a job interview, do your homework. Depending on whether an employee is a ‘blue-collar’ or ‘white-collar worker, Belgian labor law stipulates different entitlements and protections. Stop guessing. Minimum wage workers are a long way from the median income. That’s why it’s more important than ever to consider a global payroll solution that can guide you through the administrative maze and to help make your expansion in Belgium as seamless as possible. Blue-collar employees receive full sick pay for the first seven days. About a year after Germany introduced a statutory minimum wage, the policy has not become a job killer as its critics feared. "In countries with low wages, the minimum wage will be relatively better than in countries with higher wage levels," he said. The same old career advice just doesn’t cut it. Depending on the location of the employer’s operating site, these contracts must be drawn up in French, Dutch or German. It’s also important to note that because there are three distinct regions in Belgium (Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital), a work permit needs to be sought from the correct employment agency, depending on the location of the employer’s operating site. Do career research and find in-depth salary data for specific jobs, employers, schools, and more. Additionally, Belgium tax changes annually at local and national levels and social security contribution rates also change every quarter. Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached an all-time high in 2018 but dropped by 50 per cent in 2019; however, this has been linked to the uncertainty around Brexit. Income tax rates vary depending on income and range from 25% to 50%.