iGlobal Law

Core Facts

• Population:  11.4M
• GDP:  USD 455 billion
• GDP per head:  USD 45,150
• Workforce:  4M
• Unemployment (2017):  6.9%
• High skilled monthly wages (2017):  USD 3,342

Regulatory

• Government debt:  106% of GDP
• Personal income tax:  53.7%
• Corporation tax:  34%
• World corruption ranking 2016:  15th Transparency International
• Ease of doing business ranking:  42nd  Business Freedom Index
• Labour law:  ILO Conventions ratified
• Data protection:  Member of the EU and so recognised as having adequate protection

Belgian employment relations are strongly regulated and highly evolved, which is perhaps fitting for a country whose capital is at Europe’s political heart. Although a small country, Belgium’s federal status and clear economic and political divide between service and agriculture-driven, Dutch speaking Flanders to the north and French-speaking post-industrial Wallonia to the south can make governing it, and its employment affairs, something of a challenge.

Works councils and trade unions are very prevalent, but employers are also organised across industries or sectors. While notice periods are often long and termination procedures can be technical and tricky, employees certainly do not get everything their own way: income taxes in Belgium are amongst the highest in the world.