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New Remote Working Legislation Around the World [Updated]

With the rise of technology, work from home has been a steadily growing trend for many years. Remote working has exploded since Spring 2020 with quarantines, workplace closures, and lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least for jobs and industries that do not always require workers to be on-site.

This abrupt, worldwide shift to remote work has sparked new logistical and structural legal challenges that have warranted many countries to pass teleworking legislation, some of which are summarized in this article.

New teleworking legislation varies widely across countries. While some countries introduced their first teleworking general legal framework, other countries passed more detailed measures. This article will only cover permanent teleworking legislation that has entered into effect since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Temporary COVID-19 related measures, as well as proposed legislation not yet passed as of the publication of this article will not be addressed.

Belgium

Belgium Extends Employment Protections to Infertility Treatment

The Belgium government passed legislation introducing employment protections against dismissal and discrimination for male and female employees undergoing infertility treatment or engaged in medically assisted reproduction (MAR).

Amendments to the Labor Act of 16 March 1971 and the Gender Act of 10 May 2007 entered into effect on 28 April 2024.

Belgium to introduce a four-day workweek option and the right to disconnect [Updated]

The Belgium government recently agreed on introducing a series of reforms aimed at boosting private sector employees’ work-life balance. The most notable changes include the option for employees to ask their employers for a four-day workweek as well as the right to disconnect. Once a draft bill outlining and explaining the new measures is introduced, it will enter into effect after it is passed by the Belgium parliament. This process will likely take months and may alter current provisions.

Belgium

Belgium extends paid bereavement leave

The Belgium government recently passed a law introducing changes to existing employer-paid bereavement leave, including an extension of its duration from three to 10 days and greater flexibility in taking such leave. The new law entered into effect on 25 […]

Belgium

Belgium introduces voluntary supplementary pensions for employees

The government of Belgium passed a law introducing voluntary supplementary pensions for employees (VAPW). The new regulation gives employees the right to make payroll contributions to an individual supplementary pension plan with a provider of their choice if they do […]

Belgium enacts bonus tax exemption

As of 1 January 2018, bonuses paid to employees as warrants or options, that do not exceed 20 percent of total gross earnings, are exempt from employer and employee social security contributions.