Introduction
The Belgian job market for foreigners
Finding a job in Belgium may not be quite as difficult as the statistics would lead you to believe, but it does take a certain amount of experience, a number of qualifications and a lot of perseverance.
If you’re a national of a European Union (EU) country, you already have the right to work in the Belgium under the EU’s freedom of movement provisions. Once you’ve found a job, you simply register with the appropriate authorities where you’ll be living and a residence permit is automatically granted.
Non-EU nationals without automatic rights to work in Belgium will find it rather more difficult because any potential employer must seek the approval of the local labour or employment office in order to hire a non-EU foreigner.
Foreigners are found in large numbers throughout Belgium, and the numbers are probably much higher than official statistics suggest, as those working for the various international organisations (particularly those in and around Brussels) often aren’t considered as residents.
Like other European countries, Belgium has tightened the immigration laws in recent years, both to protect local citizens’ rights in a period of high unemployment and to discourage trafficking of refugees.
Also in this section
- Introduction: The Belgian job market for foreigners
- Qualifications: What qualifications do I need to get a job in Belgium
- Employment Agencies: Public and Private Employment Agencies
- International Civil Service: Working for an international organisation
- Job hunting: How to look for a job in Belgium
- Job Applications in Belgium: CVs and cover letters
- Working in Belgium: Salary and working conditions
- Employment contracts: What employment contracts entail
- Social Security: The Belgian social security system
- Unemployment Benefit: Getting money when you loose your job
- Pensions: An introduction to the Belgian pension system
