BELGIUM / EMPLOYMENT LAW 

 

BELGIUM / EMPLOYMENT LAW 

 

General Rules of Employment Law in Belgium

Belgian employment law is characterized by a high degree of regulation and protection for employees, making it essential for employers and employees to understand their rights and obligations. Here are some key aspects:

  1. Contracts: Employment agreements in Belgium must be in writing and can be for a fixed term or indefinite duration. Certain elements, such as job description, salary, and working hours, must be clearly stated in the contract.
  2. Working Hours: The standard work week in Belgium is typically 38 hours. Any work above this limit is considered overtime and must be compensated accordingly. Laws also regulate the maximum work hours per week and mandate rest periods.
  3. Wages and Benefits: The minimum wage in Belgium varies depending on the sector and age of the employee. Employers are required to pay social security contributions, which cover pensions, healthcare, and other statutory benefits.
  4. Leave: Employees are entitled to various types of leave, including annual holiday, maternity/paternity leave, and sick leave. The specifics of these leaves are strictly regulated, such as the duration and compensation.
  5. Termination of Employment: Termination rules vary depending on the type of contract and the circumstances of the dismissal. Employees are often entitled to a notice period or severance pay, except in cases of gross misconduct.
  6. Discrimination and Harassment: Belgian law prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and other factors in employment. Employers are also required to protect employees from harassment in the workplace.

 

Issues in Belgian Employment Law

  1. Complexity and Compliance: The complexity of Belgian labor laws and the high level of protection afforded to employees can be challenging for employers, especially international companies unfamiliar with the local system.
  2. Union Influence: Unions are very active in Belgium, and collective bargaining agreements are common. Employers must navigate these relationships and agreements carefully.
  3. Employment Disputes: Disputes over wrongful termination, discrimination, and other employment issues are not uncommon. These disputes can be costly and damage a company’s reputation.

 

Role of Business and Employment Lawyers

  1. Compliance: Lawyers help ensure that employment practices are in compliance with Belgian law. This includes drafting employment contracts, setting up proper wage systems, and advising on the legal aspects of employee benefits.
  2. Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Employment lawyers represent clients in disputes related to wrongful dismissal, discrimination, harassment, and other employment issues. They work towards resolving disputes through negotiation or, if necessary, litigation.
  3. Collective Bargaining: Business lawyers often negotiate on behalf of employers in collective bargaining with unions, helping to establish agreements that are fair and lawful.
  4. Restructuring and Redundancies: In cases of restructuring or layoffs, employment lawyers provide guidance on the legal requirements and procedures to minimize legal risks and ensure fair treatment of employees.
  5. International Employment Law: For multinational companies, employment lawyers also handle the complexities of cross-border employment issues, ensuring compliance with both Belgian law and international labor standards.

 

Overall, the intricacies of Belgian employment law and the active role of unions make the involvement of knowledgeable business and employment lawyers critical for both employers and employees to navigate the legal landscape effectively.

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French, Belgian and Swiss business immigration & criminal lawyers

Our law firm was created in a spirit of innovation and with the desire to implement a distinctly modern approach to the practice of law. Lexial’s innovative geographical footprint allows the firm to serve customers in Brussels, Paris and Geneva dealing with European and international legal issues.

The firm focuses on specific areas of law. With Lexial, you are not a “number”, our team is voluntarily restricted in size because a customized relationship with our clients is a priority.

In addition to a selection of traditional legal services offered business and employment law, the firm has developed a specialized practice in international immigration law as well as in international criminal and political law. Lexial is every year classified as a leader among immigration lawyers and international criminal lawyers.

Thanks to its French and Belgian immigration lawyers, the firm possesses expertise in the area of international mobility in Belgium and France (especially French Talent Passport and Belgian Professional Card). We are also active in Switzerland.

Within this framework, we have developed strong relationships with Middle Eastern countries, in particular Gulf States (UAE, Kuwait and Qatar), Asia and North America.

The Firm applies the standard rules of ethics of European lawyers (CCBE).

WE DO NOT provide any legal opinion by telephone: please use our “on-line” consultation form.

Business immigration and criminal lawyers in France, Belgium and Switzerland

 

Créé en 2007 dans un esprit d’innovation et de modernité, Lexial est actif dans un nombre restreint de spécialités.

C’est tout d’abord en droit international et européen de l’immigration d’affaires que le cabinet s’est distingué compte tenu de l’expérience de ses avocats dans les domaines de la mobilité internationale, de l’immigration professionnelle et des problématiques propres à l’expatriation.

Le cabinet est à ce titre recommandé par différents organismes internationaux de référencement, mentionnés par ailleurs dans ce site.

Plus spécifiquement, nous conseillons nos clients en matière de permis de travail, de carte professionnelle pour indépendant, de permis de résidence et de nationalité dans les pays dans lesquels nous sommes présents.

Présent à Paris comme à Bruxelles depuis 2007, Lexial est depuis lors le cabinet de référence des Français de Belgique. Outre cette activité dominante, nous assistons les entreprises et les particuliers dans toutes les branches du droit des affaires, en droit du travail, ainsi qu’en droit pénal.

Ons advocatenkantoor werd opgericht met een innovatiegeest en de wens van een andere moderne aanpak van de rechtspraktijk in te voeren.

Het innovatieve geografische bedekkingsgebied van Lexial laat het kantoor toe, cliënten te bedienen van kantoren in Brussel, Parijs en Geneva, die met Europese en internationale rechtsaangelegenheden te doen hebben.

Het kantoor concentreert zich op een beperkt aantal deskundig rechtsvakken. Benevens de kleine selectie van traditionele rechtsdiensten die het voorstelt – strafrechtelijk, politiek, zaken- en tewerkstellingsrecht-, resulteerde de unieke aanpak van het kantoor in een enge scherpstelling op internationaal en Europees zakenimmigratierecht.

Het kantoor beschikt over erkende expertise op vlak van internationale mobiliteit, uitgewekenenzaken en beroepsimmigratie en kan aan cliënten raadgeven op specifieke materiën, m.i.v. werkvergunning, beroepskaart, nationaliteit en verblijftoelating in België, Frankrijk en Zwitserland.

Binnen dit raam ontwikkelden wij sterke betrekkingen met landen van het Midden-Oosten, in het bijzonder de Golfstaten (VAE en Qatar), maar eveneens met Azië en Rusland.

Наша компания была создана в духе новаторства и с желанием реализовать современный подход к юридической практике. Географическое положение офисов Lexial позволяет компании обслуживать клиентов в Брюсселе, Париже и Женеве по вопросам европейского и международного права. Компания сосредотачивает свою деятельность на ограниченных областяx права. В дополнении k более традиционным юридическим услугам – в уголовном, политическом, деловом и трудовом праве – компания развила со временем уникальный подход в облaсти миграции бизнеса на фоне европейского и международного законодательства. Компания обладает также большим опытом в области международной мобильности включая профессиональную иммиграцию, и может консультировать клиентов по конкретным вопросам, в том числе разрешение на работу, запрос на получение профессиональной карты, гражданства и вид на жительство в Бельгии, Франции и Швейцарии. В рамках нашей деятельности, мы разработали прочные партнерские отношения со странами Ближнего Востока, в частности государствами Персидского залива (ОАЭ и Катар), но и со странами Азии и России.

我们律师事务所的成立是以革新的精神和采用与众不同的现代途径来处理法律的业务.

Lexial 律师事务所革新的地理位置让我们在布鲁塞尔, 巴黎和日内瓦的办事处能为客户们提供各种在欧洲和国际上的合法服务。

我们的律师事务所是针对有限量的地区和专业领域加上少量选择性的传统法律业务如 : 刑事案件，政治，商业和劳工司法官司等。

公司独一的专长是针对 国际和欧洲的商业移民业务。公司具有处理国际流动性移民和职业移民的能力同时也能为客户提供各种有关的专业咨询，包括申请工卡，职业卡和在比利时，法国和瑞士申请公民和居留证等业务。

在这个工作框架内, 我们和中东的国家, 特别是海湾国家（阿联酋和卡塔尔）和亚洲, 俄罗斯等国家也发展了强大的业务关系。

تم إنشاء شركتنا القانونية بروح الابتكار مع الرغبة في تنفيذ نهج واضح وحديث لممارسة الأنشطة القانونية ‘لكزيال’ وموقعها الجغرافي المبتكر الذي يسمح للشركة لخدمة الزبائن من خلال المكاتب الموجودة في بروكسل وباريس وجنيف التي تتعامل مع المسائل القانونية الأوروبية والدولية تركز الشركة على عدد محدود من مجالات الخبرة القانونية. بالإضافة إلى مجموعة صغيرة من الخدمات القانونية التقليدية المقدمة – الجنائية والسياسية والتجارية وقانون العمل- فقد أدى نهج الشركة الفريد من نوعه في العمل إلى التركيز الدقيق على قانون هجرة الأعمال الأوروبي والدولي تمتلك الشركة الخبرة المؤكدة في مجال التحركية الدولية، وقضايا العمالة الوافدة والهجرة المهنية، كما يمكنها تقديم المشورة للزبائن في مسائل محددة بما في ذلك رخصة العمل، البطاقة المهنية، المواطنة والإقامة في بلجيكا وفرنسا وسويسرا في هذا الإطار، قمنا بتطوير علاقات قوية مع دول الشرق الأوسط، خاصة مع دول الخليج (الإمارات العربية المتحدة وقطر)، وأيضا مع آسيا وروسيا