2017 salary minimums set

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Salary thresholds for highly skilled foreign employees, executive-level personnel and EU Blue Card holders will increase Jan. 1.

What does the change mean? The 2017 gross annual salary minimums for B permits are €40,124 for highly skilled employees and €66,942 for executive-level personnel. The new salary minimum for EU Blue Cards is €51,882.

• Implementation time frame: Jan. 1.
• Visas/permits affected: B work permits for highly skilled employees and executive-level personnel; EU Blue Cards.
• Who is affected: Companies applying for B work permits or EU Blue Cards.
• Business impact: The 2017 salary thresholds represent a minor increase over 2016 thresholds.

Background: The 2017 salary thresholds are approximately 0.75 percent higher than the 2016 rates (€39,824 for highly skilled employees, €66,441 for executive-level managers, €51,494 for EU Blue Card holders).

Only money that employees are guaranteed to receive can be taken into account when considering salary minimums. Discretionary bonuses and cost-of-living allowances cannot be taken into account, though some in-kind benefits can be, depending on the precise circumstances.

The salary minimums apply throughout Belgium, no matter whether the work permits is processed in Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia.

BAL Analysis: Employers should follow the new salary requirements for foreign workers in 2017. Applications that do not meet the salary thresholds will be rejected.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Belgium. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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