With over 400,000 foreign workers active on its territory, Belgium ranks among the most internationally-oriented labour markets in Europe. Multinationals, European institutions and SMEs recruit internationally, and every hire generates its share of HR documents to translate: employment contracts, payslips, work regulations and NSSO certificates.
Most frequently translated HR documents
Belgian labour law is complex and three-pronged: it encompasses sector-specific collective labour agreements (CLAs), common law (the Act of 3 July 1978) and specific regional regulations. For an employer welcoming foreign employees, or for a Belgian worker going on an international assignment, translating HR documents is both a legal and practical necessity.
- Employment contracts: permanent, fixed-term, interim and apprenticeship contracts, to be translated into the employee's language or that of the competent administration
- Payslips: translation of job titles, NSSO contributions, fringe benefits (meal vouchers, eco-vouchers, company car)
- Work regulations: a legally mandatory document that must be displayed in the company, required to be understood by all workers
- NSSO and DIMONA certificates: documents required for procedures with foreign social security bodies
- Employment certificates and letters of recommendation: for workers changing employers or going abroad
- Internal HR policies: codes of conduct, ethics charters, telework policies, to be translated for subsidiaries or newly hired non-French-speaking staff
Belgian employer's legal obligations
The Act of 5 June 2002 on the coordination of laws on workers' welfare requires the employer to ensure that every worker understands information relating to their safety and rights. The work regulations in particular must be accessible in a language the worker understands. In practice, multinational companies established in Belgium are often required to produce multilingual versions of their fundamental HR documents.
Furthermore, the CLA Act (Act of 5 December 1968) provides that collective agreements are drafted in the language of the linguistic region of the registered office. Any company with its registered office in Wallonia employing Dutch-speaking workers must ensure that fundamental documents are accessible in their language.
TranslateBE
HR translation and employment contracts in Belgium
Legal translators specialising in Belgian labour law. Free quote in under one hour, express 24h delivery available.
Pricing
A standard employment contract of 5 to 10 pages is priced from 90 euros. A complete work regulation (15-25 pages) is estimated between 180 and 320 euros. Payslips and simple certificates start at 40 euros per document. All HR documents translated by TranslateBE benefit from a legal review by a second translator specialising in Belgian labour law.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is my foreign employment contract valid in Belgium?
An employment contract governed by foreign law can be recognised in Belgium under certain conditions (Rome I Regulation on the law applicable to contractual obligations). However, mandatory standards of Belgian law - minimum wage, working hours, paid leave - always apply to a worker employed in Belgium, regardless of the law chosen in the contract. A certified translation of your contract is required for Belgian courts or the NSSO to be able to analyse it.
Does the work regulation need to be translated for foreign employees?
Yes. The Belgian Act of 8 April 1965 establishing work regulations requires the employer to hand this document to every worker. If an employee does not understand French, Dutch or German, the employer must provide a version in a language they understand, or at minimum ensure they have acknowledged it. In the event of a dispute, the absence of a comprehensible version may be held against the employer.
How much does translating an employment contract cost in Belgium?
The price depends on the number of pages and the language pair. A standard permanent contract (5 to 10 pages) is priced from 90 euros. A more complex contract with annexes (bonus plan, company car, non-compete clause) can reach 200 to 300 euros. Sworn translation, required for certain judicial proceedings, is available with a surcharge. Request a free online quote - we respond in under one hour.
Urgent HR translation in Belgium?
Our translators specialising in Belgian labour law deliver within 24h. Free quote, reply in under one hour.