August 2026 - More and more employees are choosing to bike to work. In 2025, nearly 8% of employees with permanent contracts received a bicycle allowance. In Flanders, that share rose to over 15%—or more than one in seven employees. The bicycle allowance has become an attractive fringe benefit. So why should—or shouldn’t—your company offer a bicycle allowance? ➤

August 2026 - Artificial intelligence has rapidly made its way into the workplace. Entrepreneurs are also increasingly using it to draft emails, quotes, newsletters, blogs, and social media posts. It’s convenient, but the more companies use the same technology, the more their communication starts to sound alike—correct, polished, and error-free, but also predictable and interchangeable. Good business communication isn’t just… ➤

August 2026 - Hiring a first employee remains a major step for many SMEs. To make this decision financially feasible, the federal government provides a Social Security Contribution (RSZ) rebate for first hires. However, new rules have been in effect since July 1, 2026. The program is becoming simpler, but the financial benefits are also changing. ➤

August 2026 - On July 1, 2026, the flexi-job system in our country underwent a thorough overhaul. The new legislation makes flexi-jobs accessible to virtually all sectors, but at the same time introduces revised conditions and additional rules. Flexi-jobs are becoming the norm in nearly all sectors. The biggest change is undoubtedly the significant expansion of the scope of application. ➤

August 2026 - Starting October 1, 2026, students who engage in self-employment will find it easier to take advantage of the student-self-employed status. The federal government is relaxing the rules to encourage entrepreneurship among young people and reduce the administrative burden. A student-self-employed person is someone who engages in a self-employed… ➤

August 2026 - After more than three and a half years of continuous growth, the number of job seekers in Flanders has fallen again. At the end of June, the VDAB recorded 206,590 unemployed job seekers, 1 percent fewer than a year earlier. This marks the first decline in the number of job seekers since October 2022. However, the jobseeker rate remained unchanged at 6.4 percent… ➤

August 2026 - According to recent figures from Eurostat, the expected working life expectancy in Belgium is rising faster than in any other European Union member state. Belgians are staying in the workforce longer—an average of 35.7 years—but the country still lags behind many Western European nations. Why Belgium Is Catching Up? ➤

August 2026 - The federal personal income tax reform will bring about a series of tax changes starting with the 2026 tax year. The goal is clear: to make working and running a business more attractive by reducing the tax burden and increasing take-home pay. For the self-employed and SME entrepreneurs, the reform includes many positive… ➤

August 2026 - If you, as an entrepreneur, distribute profits to yourself through the VVPRbis system or a liquidation reserve, you will pay a higher withholding tax starting July 1, 2026. Through the most recent Program Act—published in the Belgian Official Gazette on June 1, 2026—the federal government has brought the tax treatment of these… ➤

August 2026 - A bottle of wine for a loyal customer, a gift card for an employee, or a promotional gift to kick off the summer vacation: in Belgium, specific accounting and tax rules apply to business gifts. If you apply these rules correctly, you’ll avoid time-consuming disputes with the tax authorities and potential fines. What should you keep in mind as an SME business owner? Are you giving a gift to a customer, supplier… ➤

July 2026 - Confidence among Flemish SMEs continues to decline. This is evident from the latest UNIZO SME Barometer for the second quarter of 2026. Entrepreneurs are grappling with rising costs, declining profitability, and growing uncertainty. As a result, many are postponing investments and hiring. Only 30 percent of SMEs report currently having the financial flexibility to invest. ➤

July 2026 - For many companies, spring is not only the time when employees start planning their vacations, but also when double vacation pay is paid out. This is an annual obligation that can have a significant impact on your payroll costs and cash flow. But when exactly do you have to pay it, and what about workers and employees who are leaving the company? ➤

July 2026 - Energy-intensive companies can once again apply for the so-called Supercap scheme.
This support measure reduces a portion of the levies and surcharges on electricity bills and is intended to strengthen the competitive position of Flemish companies.
Applications for support in 2026 can be submitted until September 15, 2026. ➤

July 2026 - Summer temperatures are soaring. For those who work in an office, a fan or air conditioning is often enough to get through the workday.
But for employees who work outdoors or perform heavy physical labor, extreme heat can pose a serious health risk. That’s why Belgian law imposes a number of clear obligations on employers as soon as it gets too hot in the workplace. ➤

July 2026 - Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, the Flemish Training Leave (VOV) will undergo a major overhaul. The Flemish government aims to make the system more targeted, focus more on shortage occupations, and crack down harder on abuse. The reform primarily affects which training programs are still eligible for VOV. ➤

July 2026 - As an entrepreneur or self-employed person, you don’t want to pay more taxes than necessary. A clear understanding of deductible expenses—whether or not in consultation with your accountant—helps you optimize your tax situation and avoid surprises. Which expenses can you claim as business expenses, which ones only partially, and which ones not at all? ➤

July 2026 - With the Program Law of May 30, 2026, the federal government is (once again) tinkering with the tax framework for copyrights. In particular, the elimination of the increased flat-rate expense deduction will be felt by those who currently receive or pay out copyright income. Although this will increase the tax burden, the system will remain a fiscally attractive option in the future. ➤

July 2026 - Five Belgian companies are taking their case to the Constitutional Court to challenge a provision of the new capital gains tax. They are not objecting to the tax itself, but rather to the way the law defines who is considered an entrepreneur. According to the companies, this definition is too broad and does not sufficiently take into account the reality of growing SMEs. ➤

July 2026 - For many companies, the exemption from withholding tax for shift and night work remains an important way to control labor costs. At the same time, a rapidly changing legal framework—including a limitation on the tax benefit—means that, as an employer, you need to thoroughly review your current approach. It’s time for an update. ➤

July 2026 - More and more job applicants are using artificial intelligence to draft their resumes, cover letters, or answers to interview questions. While this often results in well-crafted documents, it also presents new challenges for employers. Recent research* by Partena Professional shows that many Belgian employers are struggling to distinguish between… ➤