In brief
On 18 December 2025, a sectoral agreement was reached within Joint Committee No. 200, setting out the main commitments negotiated between representative employer organizations and trade unions for the 2025–2026 period. Since then, several new collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) have already been concluded within Joint Committee No. 200 that implement nearly all commitments of this sectoral agreement. These CBAs introduce a number of important changes affecting end‑of‑year premiums, mobility benefits, bereavement leave and time‑credit systems.
In more detail
End‑of‑year premium
Several amendments have been adopted that introduce changes to the way the end‑of‑year premium is calculated (effective since 1 January 2026):
- Assimilation of temporary unemployment: Up to five days of temporary unemployment — whether due to economic reasons or force majeure — will now be assimilated to regular working days for purposes of calculating the end‑of‑year premium.
- Pro rata entitlement in case of dismissal with counter-notice: Employees who are dismissed and subsequently provide a counter-notice will also be entitled to a pro rata end‑of‑year premium, provided they have at least six months of seniority.
- Pro rata entitlement for resignations: Employees who resign or whose contract is terminated by mutual agreement will receive a pro rata premium if they have at least three years of seniority (reduced from the current threshold of five years).
Mobility benefits
The following changes have been introduced in relation to mobility benefits:
- Employer contribution for train travel: Since 1 January 2026, the employer’s intervention for Belgian train tickets is increased to 100% of the price of a second‑class ticket, with a recommendation to use a third‑party payer system.
- Bicycle allowance: As of 1 October 2026, the bicycle allowance will increase to EUR 0.32 per kilometer, capped at EUR 12.80 per day.
- Private transport threshold: the annual gross threshold used to determine the employer contribution for private transport will be adjusted annually as from 1 January 2026.
Bereavement leave
Bereavement leave has been expanded as follows as from 1 January 2026:
- In the event of the death of a partner or child: 12 days (previously 10 days).
- In the event of the death of a father, mother or parents‑in‑law: five days (previously three days).
Time credit and end-of-career regimes
Several sectoral modalities in relation to time credit leave and end-of-career regimes have been extended until 30 June 2029:
- Extension of time credit systems: The system of time credit — including time credit with motive — as well as the end‑of‑career regimes (1/5 reduction from age 55 and half‑time reduction from age 55).
- Continuation of the supplementary allowance: The supplementary allowance of EUR 90.45 per month for employees making use of the end‑of‑career regimes.