Working as a student worker from age 15: these are the new rules in 2026

Good news for anyone who looks a bit older than the till would suggest: from 7 May 2026, all 15-year-olds in Belgium can start working as student workers. Until recently, that was only possible for young people who had completed full-time compulsory education, a very small group indeed. With a new royal decree published in the Belgian Official Gazette, the door now opens for every 15-year-old, provided the work involves light, non-industrial labour.

The change comes at a time when the Flemish labour market is still crying out for workers. With 174,000 open vacancies and persistent staff shortages in retail, care and events, employers see young people as a welcome extra contingent. For parents and young people themselves, the main question is of course: what is allowed, and what is not?

In this blog, we list all the new rules. We explain what work a 15-year-old can do, how many hours can be worked per day or per week, how the pay works, and what you should look out for as a parent or employer.

What exactly changes in 2026?

Until May 2026, the rule was clear: only young people aged 16 and over (or 15-year-olds who had completed the first two years of secondary education) could sign a student contract. Anyone who was 15 and still in the middle of secondary school missed out.

The new royal decree of 7 May 2026 broadens this. From now on, every 15-year-old can work as a student worker, even if he or she is still in full-time compulsory education. The condition is that the work involves light, non-industrial labour, a legal term that we make concrete below.

In practice, this means a 15-year-old can now work on the side during holidays and weekends, without first having to reach a legal age threshold. That is especially interesting for early starters who want to earn some pocket money of their own, and for sectors that want to introduce young people to working life.

What work can a 15-year-old student worker do?

The legislator has drawn up a list of light tasks that require no specific training and that are not carried out with or on heavy mechanical machinery. Concretely, a 15-year-old may, among other things:

• Help at a reception desk or cloakroom at events
• Stock shelves or work as a sales assistant in retail
• Hand out meals and drinks and clear tables in the care sector
• Carry out light cleaning tasks: dusting, washing dishes, vacuuming or mopping small spaces, emptying waste bins, washing windows at hand height, light cleaning of sanitary facilities
• Simple logistics tasks: receiving orders, packing small parcels or keeping track of stock without heavy machinery

What is definitely not allowed: industrial labour, working on or with machines that require specific training, heavy lifting or physically demanding tasks. You will therefore not find a 15-year-old on a construction site or in the production halls of a factory.

Examples from practice

If you work through a student job platform such as AnyShift, the most concrete examples are roles like: checkout assistant in a local supermarket, helping out at the reception of a sports centre, runner at a festival or serving meals in a residential care centre. You can find out exactly which roles are available in your region on our page with flexi-job and student job locations.

How many hours can a 15-year-old work?

This is where many parents and young people need to pay attention, because the rules are stricter than for older students. A 15-year-old is legally a young worker, and that status comes with extra protection.

When	Maximum per day	Maximum per week
School day	2 hours	12 hours (during school periods)
Non-school day or holiday	8 hours	40 hours
Between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.	Prohibited	Prohibited
Sundays and public holidays	Prohibited in principle	/

Concretely: during the school week, working on the side is allowed, but only outside school hours and with a daily cap of 2 hours. During the Easter holidays, summer holidays or spring half-term, that rises to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

On top of that, a few break rules apply: a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours of work, and anyone working more than 6 hours gets at least 1 hour of break time. There must be at least 14 hours of rest between two working days, and there should be at least one rest day around Sunday.

How much does a 15-year-old student worker earn in 2026?

Just like other student workers, a 15-year-old falls under the favourable tax and social security regime of the student contract. That means: up to 650 hours per year, you pay reduced social contributions (the solidarity contribution of 2.71% instead of the standard social security contribution of around 13%). A large part of the income also remains untaxed.

The exact hourly wage depends on the sectoral collective agreement under which the student worker is employed. In retail, hospitality and care there are specific youth pay scales: the older you are, the higher the minimum hourly wage. For a 15-year-old, the gross wage is usually between 7 and 9 euros per hour, depending on the sector and the role.

What do parents need to know?

For parents, one point stands out above all: written consent is not always legally required, but the vast majority of employers and platforms do ask for it. The reason: a 15-year-old is a minor and is legally represented by his or her parents or guardian.

In addition, there is the school obligation, which of course takes priority. Work may never come at the expense of school hours, and in practice this means most 15-year-olds will only really get started during the holidays. Night work and Sunday work are also prohibited for this age group, so classic hospitality shifts on Saturday evenings are out of the question.

Finally: make sure the student contract is drawn up correctly. No contract means no reduced social security contributions and no legal protection. Read on our frequently asked questions page what a student contract should look like, and which points you can check as a parent.

What does this mean for employers?

For employers, this is a welcome expansion of the talent pool, especially in sectors offering seasonal or weekend work. Hiring a 15-year-old does mean tighter planning, because the hour restrictions are substantial. Two hours per school day is little in practice, and anyone wanting to fill a full Saturday shift from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will have to opt for a 16- or 17-year-old.

What is interesting, though: a young person who gets to know your company at 15 can work much longer shifts at 16, 17 and 18. Many employers see that as a strategic investment in future staff. Companies looking to recruit young people can submit a request via our companies page.

Conclusion: starting at 15 is allowed, provided it is properly framed

Opening up student work to 15-year-olds is a logical step in a labour market crying out for workers. For young people, it is a great opportunity to earn their own money earlier, gain work experience and get to know the world of work. For employers, it is an extra lever during peak periods, especially in retail, events and care.

At the same time, the rules remain strict: light tasks, limited hours, no night work and no industrial labour. Stick to those, and the student contract is a fully-fledged stepping stone. Want to stay up to date on all the changes around flexi-jobs and student work in 2026? Keep an eye on our overview page with all blogs or sign up as a shifter.

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