Key Points
- Minimum salary levels will increase by 1.23% – 1.94% nationwide in 2021
- Minimum salary level increases affect Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia
- New and pending applications as of January 1, 2021 must comply with the new requirements
- Applications that do not comply with the requirements will be rejected
- Allowances and benefits are generally excluded from minimum salary calculations
Overview
The Belgian government has announced an increase in minimum salary levels for 2021. Minimum salary levels will increase by 1.23% – 1.94% across the country.
What are the Changes?
Minimum salary levels will change for certain categories across Belgium. Salary increases, outlined below, are divided by region.
Flanders
Minimum salary levels will increase by 1.94% in Flanders for the following categories. New minimum salary levels include:
- Executives (including those in the upcoming EU ICT Permit): EUR 69,638
- EU Blue Card applicants: EUR 52,229
- Specialists and trainees (EU ICT Permit/Highly-skilled permit applicants): EUR 43,524
- Locally hired staff under 30 years old: EUR 34,819.20
Brussels
Starting in 2021, Brussels will have a 1.23% minimum salary increase in the categories below. New minimum salaries include:
- Executives: EUR 72,399
- EU Blue Card applicants/managers with the EU ICT Permit: EUR 56,111
- Specialists (EU ICT Permit): EUR 44,889
- Trainees (EU ICT Permit): EUR 28,056
- Highly-skilled permit applicants: EUR 43,395
Wallonia
Minimum salary levels will increase by 1.23% in 2021. New minimum salaries are reported for the following categories:
- Executives: EUR 72,399
- EU Blue Card applicants: EUR 56,112
- Highly-skilled permit applicants: EUR 43,395
Additionally, Wallonia will publish new salary levels for specialists, trainees, and managers under the EU ICT Permit upon issuing a royal decree that allows EU ICT Permits to be issued. Details on the decree’s publication date will be announced when available.
What Should Employers and Applicants Know?
Employers of foreign nationals who are seeking new or renewed work authorization on January 1, 2021 or later must increase their employees’ minimum salaries to comply with the new minimum wage requirements. Applications will be rejected if they do not meet the minimum salary levels. Employers whose employees’ work authorization applications are pending on January 1, 2021 must increase their salaries to comply with the new minimum wage levels. They must notify immigration authorities of the increase. Applications that do not meet the requirements will be rejected.
Employers should also note that allowances and benefits cannot usually be included in the minimum salary calculations. In limited cases, allowances may be permitted if they are a remuneration for services; fixed and guaranteed; taxable and outlined in the employee’s pay slip.
