News

June 25, 2025

From additional fees to ‘fast lanes’: 10 upcoming changes in Flemish labour migration

On 9 May 2025, the Flemish government approved the Flemish Minister for Work’s new concept note setting out a tightened and integrated labour migration policy based on 10 core principles. The proposed measures introduce stricter and more costly procedures for employers seeking to hire third-country nationals in Flanders. At the same time, the note promises […]

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June 23, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 6 – Coupons and vouchers: don’t forget the mandatory information

This sixth part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series lists the mandatory information to be provided when issuing titles giving a right to a discount, a subsequent refund of the price or a part of the price (such as coupons, vouchers etc.).

Coupons and vouchers are commonly used by retailers to offer discounts or partial refunds on purchases. However, to ensure transparency and legal compliance, certain essential details must be included.

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June 10, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 5 – Promotional contests: how to organise them without legal risks

This fifth part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series presents best practice in joint offers.

Retailers organise numerous games and contests in-store, on their websites and on social networks. Some of the most common practices do not strictly comply with Belgian law. Even if penalties are rare, it is worth following the few rules, especially as they are not so cumbersome.

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June 5, 2025

Category Captains beware!: Belgian competition authority fines Category Management of OTC medicines

On 24 April 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) announced a landmark decision imposing fines totaling over €11.2 million on three major pharmaceutical companies for their involvement in a long-running anti-competitive arrangement concerning the placement of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in Belgian pharmacies..

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May 28, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 4 – “Buy One, Get One Free?” Legal do’s and don’ts of joint offers

This fourth part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series presents best practice in joint offers.

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May 16, 2025

Skipping indexations: myth or fact?

In its judgment of 27 February 2025,[1] the Brussels labour court ruled that an employer in the insurance sector was entitled to unilaterally terminate the company practice of indexing full gross monthly wages exceeding the highest sector-level pay scale. According to the court, the employer had served notice in time to the employees about its […]

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May 12, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 3 – Liquidation sales: when and how to legally conduct them

This third part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series outlines when a retailer can sell in liquidation and the rules that it must follow.

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April 24, 2025

The Mons Labour Court’s addition of a new condition for the validity of a non-solicitation clause : the beginning of a new era?

In a recently-published judgment [1] the Mons Labour Court has shed new light on the validity of a so-called non-solicitation clause in an employment contract, i.e. a clause prohibiting an employee from soliciting or enticing away customers and/or personnel from the (former) employer. Where certain case law had already pointed out in the past that, […]

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April 14, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 2 – Sales periods: rules, restrictions, and compliance

This second article in our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series presents an overview of the specific rules governing sales in Belgium.

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April 7, 2025

Three months’ protection indemnity for a dismissed DPO

In a recent judgment,[1] the French-speaking section of the Brussels Labour Court confirmed that a Data Protection Officer (DPO) may not be penalised or dismissed for reasons related to his/her function as a DPO, based on Article 38, §3 of the GDPR. The court ruled that the employer had violated this provision as it had failed to prove that the employment contract’s termination was not linked to the employee’s DPO role…

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March 31, 2025

Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for retailers | Part 1 – Price reduction announcements: the legal framework and best practices

This first part of our “Retail promotions & pricing: legal essentials for businesses” series gives an overview of the rules and best practices governing price reduction announcements…

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March 25, 2025

The IOS procedure: avoid the courts when recovering undisputed claims

Since 2016, the law has provided for an administrative procedure for the recovery of undisputed and payable monetary debts in B2B relationships. This “IOS procedure” allows companies to obtain an enforceable title without first having to go through traditional court proceedings, and thus constitutes an efficient and time-saving alternative.

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