What Changes on 1 November 2025 in Belgium? | Regulations 2025-2026

On 1 November 2025, several important regulatory changes come together in Belgium. From the All Saints' Day replacement day to permanently increased student hours and expanded flexi-job opportunities, this guide gives you the complete overview of what is changing for students, flexi-jobbers, employers and pensioners.

📅 1 November 2025: All Saints' Day & Replacement Day

Saturday 1 November 2025 is All Saints' Day, a statutory public holiday in Belgium.

Replacement Day Required

Because the public holiday falls on a Saturday:

• Employees receive one replacement day during the working week
• It must have been communicated before 15 December 2024
• Usually Monday 4 November 2025
• Determined by the Joint Committee or the employer

Impact:

• Shops/government: closed on 1 November
• Hospitality: often open (extra shifts available via AnyShift)

---

🚀 Student Work: 650 Hours (Permanent Since 1 January 2025)

The Law

Law of 10 April 2025 (Belgian Official Gazette 8 May 2025):

• From 475h to 650 hours per year
• Permanent (not temporary)
• Retroactive since 1 January 2025

Social Contributions

Hours	Student	Employer	Withholding tax
1-650	2.71%	5.42% + 0.01%	None
651+	13.07%	25%	Yes

Tax: EUR 3,000 Exemption

Doubled in 2025:

• The first EUR 3,000 of student income does NOT count towards remaining a dependant for tax purposes
• Total limit: about EUR 15,100 gross per year
• Applies from tax year 2026 (2025 income)

Growth Package (Child Benefit)

• Flanders (18-25 years): Retained up to 650 hours of student contract
• Wallonia: Max 650h per year (or 240h/quarter under another status)
• Brussels/German-speaking region: Max 650h per year

Please note: The number of hours counts, not the amount!

Earnings Examples at 650 Hours

Hourly wage	Gross/year	After 2.71%	Net
EUR 14	EUR 9,100	-EUR 247	EUR 8,853
EUR 16	EUR 10,400	-EUR 282	EUR 10,118
EUR 18	EUR 11,700	-EUR 317	EUR 11,383
EUR 20	EUR 13,000	-EUR 352	EUR 12,648

💼 Flexi-Jobs: EUR 18,000 Tax-Free (2025)

New Rules

De Wever coalition agreement - Active in 2025:

• Income ceiling: EUR 12,000 to EUR 18,000 per year (tax-free, indexed)
• Max. hourly wage: EUR 17 to EUR 21/hour (where applicable)
• Sectors: All sectors accessible via an opt-out system

Newly accessible since 2025:

• Retail (supermarkets, shops)
• Care (residential care centres, home care)
• Logistics (e-commerce, warehouses)
• Recreation (museums, sports, culture)
• Construction (under certain conditions)
• IT (helpdesk, support)

Conditions

For employees:

• Working at least 4/5 with another employer (3 quarters in advance)
• When switching to 4/5: waiting period of 2 quarters from Q3
• No flexi-jobbing with your own employer

For pensioners:

• Statutory retirement age or 45 years of career: start immediately
• Worked less than 4/5: wait 2 quarters
• No income ceiling

How Much Can You Work?

At EUR 20/hour:

• EUR 18,000 ÷ EUR 20 = 900 hours per year
• = 17 hours per week on average
• = 75 hours per month

RSZ Digital Tool (May 2025)

Via a QR code, employers can check:

• Whether the candidate meets the conditions
• The remaining hours of the student/flexi-jobber
• Quick verification via smartphone

---

🔮 Upcoming Changes 2026-2030

Pension Reform

Statutory age:

• 2025: 66 years (since February)
• 2030: 67 years (planned)

Pension bonus (from 2026):

Period	Bonus/year of continued work	Max. total
2026-2029	2%	-
2030-2039	4%	-
2040+	5%	EUR 23,565

Conditions: 35 years of career + 156 days/year of work

Earning extra after retirement:

• At 66 years or 45 years of career: unlimited
• Otherwise: increased income limits (2025)

Labour Market 2026

Probation period (expected before 31/12/2025):

• Duration: 6 months
• Notice period: 1 week (both parties)
• Not for student contracts

Pay transparency - Deadline 7 June 2026:

• The EU directive must be transposed into Belgian law
• Employers required to publish pay scales
• Stricter monitoring of equal pay

Unemployment benefit (starting 2026):

• After 5 years of work: max. 2 years of benefit
• School leavers: max. 1 year
• Exception: 55+ with 30 years of career (2025) / 35 years (2030)

Meal vouchers:

• Increased twice by EUR 2 per voucher
• Eco/culture/sports vouchers: abolished

Flexible remuneration:

• Gross salary swap: max. 20% of annual salary
• Legally framed 2025-2026

Impact for Students

The unemployment reform means:

• Start building work experience NOW
• Every month counts towards future rights
• Student work = first step towards a career

Possible in 2026-2027:

• Age limit of 15 for everyone (currently under conditions)
• Evaluation of the 650-hour limit by the social partners
• Further harmonisation between the regions

---

📊 Labour Market Figures 2025

Staff shortages:

• 42.7% of employers report a shortage
• 235,000 jobseekers (but a mismatch)
• 8/10 employers would use flexi-jobs
• Demand rises 15-20% per year

Top 10 bottleneck occupations:

1. Hospitality (service staff, cooks)
2. Retail (sales, checkout)
3. Logistics (warehouse, pick & pack)
4. Care (caregiving, nursing)
5. Technical (installers)
6. Cleaning (facility)
7. Construction (helpers)
8. IT (helpdesk)
9. Education (support)
10. Transport (drivers)

Student work:

• 627,000+ students worked in 2024
• An average of EUR 15.20/hour (18+, Feb 2025)
• 70% look for study-related work

---

🏢 Sectors & Wages 2025

New Flexi-Job Sectors

Sector	Roles	Avg. wage/hour
Retail	Sales, checkout, stock	EUR 14-18
Care	Caregiving, admin, meals	EUR 15-20
Logistics	Pick & pack, sorting, loading	EUR 14-17
Recreation	Museums, sports, culture	EUR 14-18
Hospitality	Service, kitchen, bar	EUR 15-22 + tips

Hospitality Minimum 2025

Flexi-job hospitality:

• Minimum: EUR 12.53/hour (incl. 7.67% holiday pay)
• = EUR 11.64 base + holiday pay

Minimum Wages for Students (Feb 2025)

GMMMI: EUR 2,111.89 per month

Age	% GMMMI	Per month	Per hour (38h/week)
≤16 years	67%	EUR 1,415	EUR 8.59
17 years	73%	EUR 1,542	EUR 9.36
18+ years	100%	EUR 2,112	EUR 12.85

---

📱 AnyShift & the New Regulations

For Students

The platform facilitates:

• Shifts within the 650-hour budget
• Real-time hours tracking
• Alert at 600 hours
• Work in all sectors

→ Student jobs via AnyShift

For Flexi-Jobbers

AnyShift offers:

• EUR 18,000 income monitoring
• New sectors (retail, care, logistics)
• Direct payment after a shift
• Flexi-job verification

→ Become a Shifter

Download the Apps

• iPhone: App Store
• Android: Play Store

Companies

Flexible staff available immediately:
→ AnyShift for Companies

All Locations

Active in 40+ cities:
→ View all locations

---

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Student Work 650 Hours

Q: Do holidays count towards the 650h?
A: No, only hours actually worked.

Q: What happens at exactly 650h?
A: From hour 651 you pay 13% instead of 2.71%.

Q: Can I work after graduating?
A: Yes, until 30 September of that year.

Q: Do I lose the Growth Package at 650h?
A: No, as long as you stay at ≤650h with a student contract.

Q: What is the limit for being a tax dependant?
A: About EUR 15,100 gross, but the first EUR 3,000 from student work does not count.

Flexi-Jobs EUR 18,000

Q: Is EUR 18,000 net or gross?
A: Gross. Fully tax-free up to EUR 18,000.

Q: Do I build up pension rights?
A: No, flexi-jobs do not build up a pension.

Q: Can I work full-time as a flexi-jobber?
A: No, you need a minimum 4/5 main job (or to be retired).

Q: Is the EUR 18,000 indexed?
A: Yes, annual indexation from 2025.

Q: Which sectors are accessible?
A: All sectors unless the collective labour agreement has chosen to opt out.

All Saints' Day Replacement Day

Q: Is the replacement day required?
A: Yes, under the law of 4 January 1974.

Q: When must this be communicated?
A: Before 15 December 2024.

Q: Can I choose the day myself?
A: No, the employer/Joint Committee decides this.

The Future 2026

Q: Is a probation period coming for students?
A: No, only regular employment contracts.

Q: Will the 650h increase further?
A: Uncertain, the social partners are evaluating it.

Q: When will the retirement age be 67?
A: Planned for 2030 (may change).

Q: What is the pay transparency directive?
A: An EU obligation by 7 June 2026: employers must publish their pay scales.

---

📚 Official Sources

Government services:

• Student@work - Track your hours
• RSZ - Social security
• VDAB - Jobs in Flanders

Legislation:

• Law of 10 April 2025 (Belgian Official Gazette 8 May 2025) - 650h student work
• Coalition agreement of 31 January 2025 - Flexi-jobs
• EU Pay Transparency Directive - Deadline 7/6/2026

AnyShift:

• Frequently asked questions
• Blogs & updates
• Student jobs
• Shifters
• Companies

---

🎯 Summary of Key Points

1 November 2025

✅ All Saints' Day = Saturday = replacement day required (usually Mon 4 Nov)

Throughout 2025

Students:

• 650 hours/year (permanent)
• EUR 3,000 tax exemption
• 2.71% contribution (instead of 13%)
• Growth Package retained up to 650h

Flexi-Jobs:

• EUR 18,000 tax-free (was EUR 12k)
• All sectors accessible
• Max EUR 21/hour (was EUR 17)
• Pensioners: no limit

2026-2030

Pensions:

• 66 years (2025) to 67 years (2030)
• Bonus: 2% (2026) to 4% (2030) to 5% (2040)

Labour market:

• 6-month probation period (before 31/12/2025)
• Pay transparency required (7/6/2026)
• Unemployment: max 1-2 years
• Meal vouchers: +EUR 4 total

---

About AnyShift

We connect students, flexi-jobbers and pensioners with companies through flexible shifts. Work whenever, wherever and as often as you like.

Start now: Become a Shifter | Download the App

---

Last update: 1 November 2025
Based on legislation in force as of November 2025

Disclaimer: Regulations may change. Amounts are subject to indexation. For personal advice: consult Student@work, your payroll office or the AnyShift FAQ.