The Compendium social – Droit du travail is a four-volume reference work that serves as an annotated code, a collection of case law and a carefully selected bibliography all in one.

The 2025–2026 edition includes all developments published over the past year, up to the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge) of 31 July 2025, across a very wide range of topics. For example, this new edition covers parental leave for foster parents, introduced by the Programme Act of 18 July 2025, and the changes set out in the bill containing miscellaneous provisions (wider scope for student work and abolition of the first-job obligation). The commentary has also been updated in light of the Act of 15 May 2024 amending social criminal law and various employment law provisions. Besides many amendments to the Social Criminal Code, that Act also contains the new rules on employability measures (Article 39ter of the Employment Contracts Act).

Written by Willy van Eeckhoutte and Vincent Neuprez, this year’s edition runs to 3,990 pages.

Since 1 April 2026, the quota of voluntary overtime hours has risen from 120 to 360 hours a year (450 in the hospitality sector). Their tax and social security treatment was still missing. That has now been settled, with retroactive effect from 1 April 2026.

In practice, the quota is split into two blocks.

1. The first 240 hours (360 in the hospitality sector): “gross for net”

→ Exempt from social security contributions
→ Exempt from payroll withholding tax and income tax
→ No overtime premium

Note: this benefit cannot be combined with an overtime premium, even one paid voluntarily. If the employer pays one, the favourable tax and social security treatment no longer applies to those hours at all.

2. The next 120 hours: the standard rules

→ Ordinary social security contributions and payroll withholding tax
→ Overtime premium payable
→ However, these hours qualify for the tax treatment that applies to standard overtime: a tax reduction for the employee and a partial exemption from paying over withholding tax for the employer, up to a limit of 180 hours a year.

Practical reminders:

→ The employee’s prior written agreement is required. It is valid for one year and renews automatically, and either party can end it.
→ The employer can neither impose these hours nor penalise a refusal.
→ For part-time employees, these hours are only possible during a temporary increase in workload, and after at least three years of part-time work.
→ Since the rules apply retroactively, it is advisable to check with your social secretariat (payroll provider) how hours worked since 1 April have been processed.

Bellaw Liège is pleased to have welcomed Charline Rensonnet at the start of this new judicial year.

Charline was sworn in before the Liège Court of Appeal on 23 October 2026, marking the start of her career as a lawyer and her journey with Bellaw Liège.

She holds a Master of Laws, specialising in economic and social law, from the University of Liège.

She will practise social law alongside Olivier Moureau.

The whole Bellaw Liège team is delighted to welcome her and wishes her every success and fulfilment in this new professional adventure.

We are pleased to celebrate the publication of the third edition of the Manuel de droit du travail, written by Jacques Clesse, a partner at our firm, together with Professor Fabienne Kéfer.

Published by Larcier-Intersentia, this book offers a comprehensive, structured and up-to-date presentation of the principles governing individual and collective labour relations.

This new edition will support students in their studies and practitioners in their day-to-day work alike.

Congratulations to the authors on this fine publication!

Joëlle Tinant has joined the founding partners. Joëlle handles civil liability and insurance law cases.

As every year, the Compendium social – Droit du travail has been fully revised and updated to reflect the constant stream of legislative, regulatory and case-law developments. Written by Willy van Eeckhoutte and Vincent Neuprez, this year’s edition runs to 3,751 pages.