News
The rise of Employers of Record (EOR) on the Belgian labour market: a new opportunity for foreign employers expanding their business in Belgium?
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hybrid working models have become the ‘new normal’. Although this development has undoubtedly triggered challenges for employers, it has also created opportunities. The pool of candidates for filling an open vacancy has expanded substantially as nothing impedes an employer from ‘crossing the border’ to find the most suitable employee-candidate (and vice […]
Saturday is no longer a working day from 1 January 2023
Although the vast majority of companies work from Monday to Friday, Belgian labour law still attaches great importance to Saturdays. When the Employment Contracts Act refers to “working days” (e.g. the three-working day period for a dismissal for just cause or the registered letter serving notice that takes effect on the third working day after […]
A new special social security contribution should discourage companies from excessively using successive daily temporary agency work contracts from 1 january 2023
On 19 July 2022, the National Labour Council’s social partners proposed introducing a new responsibility mechanism to financially penalise companies that make excessive use of successive daily temporary agency (“interim”) work contracts (SDC): if the SDC number exceeds a certain threshold during a semester, then the company-user will have to pay a special social security contribution.
Copyright fit for the internet age? Belgium implements the DSM directive (Part 3: New rules governing copyright contracts)
On 1 August 2022, the Belgian law transposing the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (“DSM directive”) (EU Directive 2019/790) was published in the Belgian State Gazette (NL / FR). The new law enters into effect immediately (with the exception of a few provisions).
Copyright fit for the internet age? Belgium implements the DSM directive (Part 2: New neighbouring right for press publishers & four new mandatory exceptions to copyright)
On 1 August 2022, the Belgian law transposing the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (“DSM directive”) (EU Directive 2019/790) was published in the Belgian State Gazette (NL / FR). The new law enters into effect immediately (with the exception of a few provisions).
Copyright fit for the internet age? Belgium implements the DSM directive (Part 1: Background & article 17 DSM directive)
On 1 August 2022, the Belgian law transposing the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (“DSM directive”) (EU Directive 2019/790) was published in the Belgian State Gazette. The new law enters into effect immediately (with the exception of a few provisions).
Are foreign employers who post workers to Belgium obliged to proceed with a DIMONA obligation: what has the Belgian Supreme Court said (or rather not said)?
In a ruling of 19 April 2022, the Belgian Supreme Court decided that an A1-certificate issued by a competent foreign authority to a posted worker does not exclude compliance with the DIMONA obligation.
Are you accountable for any human rights violations in your value chain?
Even though Belgium is lagging behind when it comes to enacting specific legislation, companies doing business in Belgium should be aware of the risk of being held accountable for human rights violations or environmental pollution up or down their value chain.
The Belgian Government’s ‘labour deal’: the final draft of the bill is presented to Parliament
As announced and presented in our blog of 21 February 2022, the Belgian government reached an agreement in February 2022 on the ‘Labour Deal’, which is a package of measures seeking to get more people into work and to achieve a better work-life balance for employees.
European Commission Unveils Measures to Unleash the Potential of Health Data
The European Commission has presented its Proposal for a Regulation on the European Health Data Space (the “Proposal”). While it aims to strengthen the rights of individuals and unlock data’s potential for research purposes, it also adds complexity to an already extensive legal framework.
Webinar video | Digital Law Series #11: Keeping Up with GDPR
In this session, we will have a closer look at, amongst other things: the new SCC’s, the ECJ’s verdict in the Facebook-case and new decisions from the Market Court.
The EU’s mutual trust in the administration of justice does not extend to arbitration (in insurance disputes)
In the context of enforcement of judgments, the CJEU (in Case C-700/20) does not allow arbitration to circumvent the fundamental rules underpinning the Brussels I (recast) Regulation, including the principles governing the victim’s direct action against the insurer and lis pendens.
Belgium takes important step in introducing Foreign Direct Investment screening
On 1 June 2022, Belgium’s Federal and various Regional governments entered into a draft cooperation agreement to introduce a mechanism for screening Foreign Direct Investments (“FDI”).
Webinar video | Digital Law Series #16: Keeping Up with GDPR
Webinar video | Digital Law Series #16: Keeping Up with GDPR
The Omnibus Act: more transparency for consumers
On 28 May 2022, the Belgian law transposing EU Directive 2019/2161 into the Code of Economic Law entered into force (the “Omnibus Act”).
Webinar Video | Help! The manager is (also) a board member
Directorships raise many practical questions regarding labour law and social security, especially when such a directorship is combined with another function within the company, such as taking care of day-to-day management or fulfilling a role such as CFO or HR manager.
Valérie Struye is ALTIUS’ first non-lawyer General Manager
ALTIUS, the leading Belgian law firm, has appointed Valérie Struye as its General Manager. This is the first time that the firm will not be headed by a lawyer.
Quantum computing: the next major technological revolution is knocking at the door
The coming advent of quantum computing technologies will bring important changes to our society. In the medium term, computing calculation power will be multiplied to a level that exceeds our current understanding. This will allow for various new industrial developments and applications. This will also raise a vast number of sensitive legal issues. In this article, ALTIUS summarises what are the key takeaways that you should know about quantum computing.
End of the vigilance phase in the workplace as from 11 may 2022: back to business as usual?
Starting from 11 May 2022, several obligations regarding preventing Covid-19’s spread in the workplace will no longer apply.
Brussels and Brussels South Charleroi Airports fined for use of thermal cameras
The Belgian Data Protection Authority has fined Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport 200,000 and 100,000 EUR respectively for their use of thermal cameras during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Modernisation of consumer law through the harmonisation of contracts for the sale of goods
On 31 March 2022, a legislative Act that makes considerable changes to the sale of consumer goods was published in the Belgian State Gazette.
Back to the (pre-pandemic) future … but not for employers?
Even though telework is no longer mandatory or recommended and almost all Covid-19 prevention measures in shops, restaurants and public life in general have been removed, employers should still take certain prevention measures in the workplace to guarantee that their employees can work safely during the current stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Webinar video | Life Sciences Session #8: Global MAs and regulatory data protection a substantive and procedural challenge
Our speakers Philippe de Jong and Kirian Claeyé discuss the interesting judgment of the General Court in Polpharma v. EMA.