Annual Leave Rules in Belgium

In Belgium, most employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks of paid annual leave, which equates to 20 days for full-time workers. This entitlement is governed by the Belgian Employment Contracts Act and the Royal Decree of 28 December 1967. Employees earn their annual leave based on the number of days worked in the previous year, with the leave being calculated at 2.5 days for each month of work. It is important to note that employees must take their leave within a specific period, typically within the year following the year in which it was accrued, although unused leave may sometimes be carried over under certain conditions.

Employers in Belgium are required to provide employees with their annual leave entitlement and are prohibited from compensating employees for unused leave, except in cases of termination of employment. Additionally, specific sectors may have collective agreements that offer enhanced leave benefits. Employees are encouraged to plan their leave in consultation with their employer to ensure that their rights are upheld while maintaining operational needs. For more detailed information on employee rights regarding annual leave in Belgium, you can refer to the official website of the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue: Federal Public Service Employment.