Belgian employment law training - practical guidance and local insights

Who should attend

This Belgian employment law training course is relevant to international HR managers and directors in the UK who have responsibility for employees in Belgium. It will also be useful to managers and directors who anticipate entering the Belgian market and who need to be aware of their responsibilities to their people.

Synopsis

An employer found guilty of discrimination by a Belgian court can face a sentence of up to one year in prison. There is no concept of redundancy in Belgium and no concept of unfair dismissal either.

Led by an experienced Belgian employment lawyer, who is used to advising HR based in the UK and the USA, this Belgian employment law training will give you an understanding of the implications of employing people in a country where most global organisations have a presence.

Programme

Background

• sources of employment law
• similarities and key differences

Getting started

• recruitment issues, the dos and don’ts of interviewing and understanding references
• key terms in contracts of employment
• typical benefits
• secondment to Belgium

Belgian employment law social framework

• the role of the unions
• importance of National Labour Council
• the role of Joint Committees at sector of industry level
• the importance of collective bargaining agreements

Day-to-day employee management

• equal treatment
• dealing with absence and performance
• discipline and grievance

Employee representation

• formation of the works council, committee for safety and prevention and union delegation
• employee representative rights
• dealing with employee representatives

Termination of employment

• general dismissal protection
• special dismissal protection
• claims and the employment court
• termination by agreement
• collective dismissal and company closures

Download the full Belgian employment law training course programme