Who is this for?
You may only work as a student worker after your full-time compulsory schooling has ended. In most cases you can start working as a young person from the age of 15. Your full-time compulsory education therefore ends when you are 15 and have completed at least 2 years of secondary education. If that is not the case, your full-time compulsory schooling ends when you are 16.
From 15 or 16 years old you can therefore work as a student worker under a 'student employment' contract. A condition is that you must be enrolled in full-time or part-time education during your student job.
Exceptions
There are some situations in which you cannot work as a student worker. You cannot be employed under a ‘student employment agreement’ if you:
Have already been working for the same employer for more than 12 months
Are enrolled in an evening school
Perform unpaid work as part of an internship that is part of your study program.
Young people who alternate between learning and working can therefore work under a student agreement. This is also allowed with the employer where the 'internship agreement' (alternating training) takes place.
The pay you receive depends on your position, your age and the sector (or company) in which you work.
Contract and pay
As a student worker you must always have a contract. Check below which elements the contract must contain at minimum and how the probationary period is arranged. Mandatory elements for your student contract include: the names and personal details of you and your employer, the start and end dates of your employment, the place or job description, and so on. The pay you receive depends on your position, your age and the sector (or company) in which you work.
Lower social security contributions
Each student may work a maximum of 475 hours as a student worker. Social security contributions are lower for these hours. The solidarity contribution is 8.12%. Of that, the student pays 2.71% and the employer pays 5.42%.
Conditions are:
You work under an employment agreement for students (student contract)
Your employment as a student is limited to 475 hours per calendar year
Your employment as a student is only permitted if you do not work at times when you are required to be present at school, university, or an institution.
Do I have to pay taxes?
Whether you have to pay taxes depends on what you earn. If your income stays below a certain amount, you do not have to pay taxes on it. However, you must still fill in your tax return yourself.
The maximum amount of income you may have without having to pay taxes on it changes every year.
Foreign students
Students from countries belonging to the European Union or from Switzerland have the same rights and obligations as students who study in Belgium, even if they do not live here.