Frequently Asked Questions

• »	How do I end a permanent contract?

  The termination of the employment contract must be in writing. This must state the beginning and the duration of the notice period, under penalty of nullity.
  
  The statement of the beginning of the notice can be implied from the
  proper specification of the duration and the end of it.
  
  Notice can be validly given in the following ways:
  - by registered letter that has effect on the third working day after being sent
  - by bailiff's notification
  - by the employee giving a written notice of termination to the employer, which is signed for receipt of the notification by the employer. (This termination method is only valid if it is the employee who gives notice).

• »	What to be aware of in a contract discussion?

  Negotiating an employment contract:

  • Be reasonable, starts with a good attitude.
  • Negotiation is give and take, perhaps you will not get everything you want. Be realistic.
  • Decide beforehand what you absolutely need to be negotiated, what can be a breaking point and what would possibly be nice. Make a list beforehand.
  • Do not waste time negotiating your contract with a person who has no decision-making authority. Ensure you negotiate with the right person.
  • Provide enough time. Do not be afraid to ask for time to consider, or to request a new appointment.

  What about the signing of the employment contract?

  • Have your agreements put down on paper. This will prevent you having subsequent problems of proof.
  • Read the employment contract carefully.
  • Check whether what was agreed in advance concerning conditions, i.e. monthly salary, hospitalisation and/or group insurance, expense allowance, and any other non-statutory benefits, are also properly stated in the employment contract.
  • If you do not understand something, do not sign yet. There are no stupid questions when it boils down to understanding the employment contract. Remember, what is not in the employment contract is also not binding. An agreement is only valid if it is on paper and signed.
  • Use a checklist to verify that all the agreements are included.
  • Before you sign, also check the company’s standing employment conditions. These regulations contain a lot of rules on leave, working hours, sick leave, childcare, training, etc., which apply to you once you have been taken on. If the employment contract refers to such an employment condition, it is advisable to ask for this before you sign. Because by putting your signature to the employment contract, you are also bound by the contents of the standing employment conditions.
  • If you are temporarily employed, i.e. have a contract for a definite period, the employment contract must state when the contract expires. For instance, by stating an end date. It is also possible that you are hired for the duration of a specific project, or to replace a sick employee. This must be apparent from the wording in the contract. For example, because it states ‘taken on for the duration of project X’, or ‘taken on for the duration of the illness of Y'.
  • The employment contract must state how many hours, full or part-time, you will be required to work.
  • Check whether there is an anti-competition clause.

  _{Source: 'Robert W Smithee: "introduction to contract review and negotiation, Texas Tech University", 'www.vlaamsabvv.be)}

• »	How many days can I work as a student?

  Insofar as you are at least 15 years old and no longer subject to compulsory full-time education, you are eligible for a student job. In practical terms, this means that from your 15th birthday, you can get started once you have completed the third year of secondary education.
  
  As a student, you can work 2 x 23 days during the current year:

  • 23 days in the period from January to June and from October to December
  • 23 days in the period of July/August/September

  As a student you will receive a net wage equal to the gross wage minus a solidarity contribution. This solidarity contribution is equal to 2.5% during the months of July, August, and September, and 4.5% during the other months. In other words, you will pay no payroll withholding tax under this arrangement.

  To be able to take advantage of this special student statute, the legislature sets certain conditions:
  1. attending education with a full curriculum
  2. attending part-time education, on condition that: 

  • You do not work with a part-time employment contract or a part-time internship/student trainee agreement.
  • You do not work with articles of apprenticeship for employee occupations, or self-employed people, or SMEs.
  • You do not receive any transitional benefit.
  • You only work during periods when attendance at school is not compulsory.

   

  Whether or not fiscally dependent on parents?

  You remain fiscally dependent on your parents if you:

  • are still part of the family on 1 January 2011
  • you received a maximum of 2,830 euros in net income in 2010 (= 3,537.50 euros gross)

   

  Effect on child benefit?

  Your parents continue receiving child benefit with employment as a student during the months of July/August/September.

  In the other quarters, they retain the child benefit insofar as you do not work as a student in excess of 240 hours per quarter.

  ^{Source: 'www.studentjob.be'}

• »	What is an Assessment Centre?

  An assessment centre is a collection of various instruments to assess the characteristics of an applicant for a specific position. This can be both within a selection procedure and within an assessment of the applicants in the context of further development within an organisation. It is also used to determine a new career move or even selection of studies.

  An assessment centre usually consists of four parts:

  • the interview
  • testing of skills, intelligence tests
  • personality questionnaires
  • one or more practical assignments

  It is possible to do a little to prepare yourself for an assessment centre, but above all try to remain yourself. What can be recommended is mainly to identify which competencies could be considered. Mainly inform yourself about the organisation to which you are applying.

  _{Source: www.psyonline.nl}