Frequently asked questions

1. Your employer assesses your competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes, experience). This determines your professional competence.
2. In construction, we distinguish between six categories of professional competence. Each category corresponds to a different wage. Your category of professional competence will usually be stated on your payslip.
3. Your professional competence will therefore determine your wages.

Any overtime you work is usually compensated:

• either in the form of additional wages;
• or as additional days off.

It’s best to ask your foreman what you are entitled to.

You do not have to pay for your travel to and from the construction site. Your employer will pay your transport expenses.

Click here to view the minimum wage per category

Your wages are paid at least once a month. It will be paid:

• either as a transfer into your bank account;
• or by cheque.

And you will always be given proof of payment.

Yes, you are insured against accidents at work. Your employer is required to take out insurance for you covering accidents at work.

• your medical expenses
• any lost wages.

Are you covered by Belgian social security and have you been working in the construction industry for at least six months? In that case, you will automatically receive free hospitalisation insurance. Do you need to be treated in hospital? In that case, you do not have to pay the costs yourself.

Ask Constructiv whether you are entitled to this.

• Contact Constructiv
• Find out more about hospitalisation insurance

If you break something at work, your employer is responsible. Sometimes you will be held responsible, such as in the case of fraud or serious negligence.

Each employer has a prevention policy for each job. Your employer prepares a risk assessment of your work. Once that is complete, you have to follow the employer’s rules on working safely and correctly.

Safety on the construction site is of paramount importance.

You must attend a mandatory training course called ‘Basisveiligheid’ (‘Basic safety’).

Your foreman will also explain the risks and how to work safely. Always follow these instructions, for both your own safety and that of your colleagues.

• a safety helmet
• a high-visibility jacket
• safety shoes.

Your employer will provide this equipment. If necessary, you will also receive other safety equipment.

Are you ill? Are you suffering from any health problems? If so, see your doctor. Do you have any questions about your work and health? Please make an appointment with the prevention consultant.

• Is your room smaller than 18 m²? If so, you will sleep alone in that room.
• Is your room bigger than 18 m²? In that case, you might need to share your room with someone else.

• It must have water and electricity.
• It must be well ventilated and have no moisture problems.
• There must be double glazing throughout.
• There must be smoke detectors on every floor.

This website lists all the standards and rules.

If so, your employer must:

• either arrange for accommodation;
• or pay an allowance so that you can rent a property yourself.

Everyone should feel comfortable and safe on the construction site. There is no place for discrimination or bullying. Your gender, age, nationality, orientation or religion does not matter. Everyone is treated the same.
 

Are you experiencing discrimination regardless of this? Then report it to your foreman.
 

For example: are there any dangerous situations at your work? Are you not receiving your wages? Or not on time? Is there a problem with your house or flat? Do you have any other problems?

You can report your problem to a dedicated hotline. You can do so in complete confidence. The hotline will never pass your name on to your boss.

There are 10 recognised public holidays in Belgium. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a replacement day will be chosen. You do not need to work on a public holiday or replacement day. You will still be paid wages, just as you are on a normal leave day. Note that there are some exceptions to this rule.

• You work the same number of hours each week.
• After six hours of work, you are entitled to a break of at least 15 minutes.
• You are entitled to a minimum rest period of 11 hours between two working days.
• You are entitled to at least 35 consecutive hours of rest per week. That means you there should be at least 1.5 days where you are not working.

You will normally work 40 hours a week, spread across five days. The exact time rosters are set out in the work regulations.

You will be granted 12 collective leave days per year (‘ADV days’) on top of your statutory leave days.

The construction site always has the following facilities:

• toilets
• a changing room
• a place to wash yourself
• a refectory
• first-aid equipment for accidents: a stretcher, a blanket, two first-aid kits and fire extinguishers.

Your employer has a duty to regularly clean these places.

No, your contract cannot be cancelled without notice. However, your employer can dismiss you. You can also resign at any time. After resigning, you will have to continue working for a while. This is called your notice period. The longer you have been working for the company, the longer your notice period will be.

Note that if you, as a worker posted from abroad, come to work in Belgium on a temporary basis, the rules of your home country apply.

The Dimona declaration is an electronic message by which your employer notifies the Belgian authorities (RSZ/ONSS/LSS) that you have started working with that employer.

An A1 certificate is an official document. It states in which country you pay your social security contributions (e.g. for pension and health insurance). With an A1 certificate, you will continue to pay these contributions in your home country. That way, you won’t have to pay them in Belgium, preventing double payment.

Are you coming to work temporarily in Belgium, but are you paying your social security contributions (for example, for pension or health insurance) abroad? If so, you must first report this to the Limosa database. This database processes your data. Your employer will usually take care of your Limosa declaration.