Pay and working conditions in European countries

Thinking about working in another European country? For each of 32 countries – all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – you will find the key labour market figures, where the jobs are, how to apply, pay and working conditions, student jobs and what to do in your first weeks. General advice on job search, your CV and your rights: How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides »

Found: 1

Belgium

Minimum wage: the national statutory minimum wage is €2,234 gross a month (July 2026, Eurostat).
Collective agreements: pay scales (barema’s / barèmes) are agreed for each sector between employers and trade unions and set out in collective agreements (cao / CCT). They fix a minimum and a maximum salary, linked to experience and seniority. The number of your joint committee (paritair comité / commission paritaire) is on your payslip.
Holidays: a full year of work gives you 20 days of paid leave in a five-day week (24 days in a six-day week). The number of days depends on how much you worked in the previous calendar year.
Holiday pay (vakantiegeld / pécule de vacances): for blue-collar workers it is 15.38% of the gross wages of the previous year – 8% single and 7.38% double holiday pay.
Written contract: compulsory for fixed-term contracts, part-time work, student jobs and domestic work. Contracts can also be open-ended, for a specific job, for replacement or temporary.

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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