Qu'est-ce que Permanent Employment Contract (CDI) ?
Definition
The permanent employment contract (CDI — Contrat à Durée Indéterminée / Arbeidsovereenkomst van Onbepaalde Duur) is an open-ended employment contract with no predetermined termination date. It is the standard reference contract in Belgian labour law, offering the highest level of employment security and the broadest range of legal protections for employees.
In practice
A CDI in Belgium is governed by the Law of 3 July 1978 on employment contracts. Key features include: no fixed end date; protection against arbitrary dismissal; mandatory notice periods (or compensation in lieu) based on the Claeys formula (length of service × 1/3 month per started year, with minimums); and access to unemployment benefits upon dismissal (subject to ONEM conditions). The contract must specify: identity of parties, commencement date, job description, place of work, working hours, salary, and any applicable collective agreement. A probationary period is no longer permitted for CDI contracts signed after 2014 — the first days of the contract now carry full protection. A CDI can be terminated by either party (employee via resignation, employer via dismissal) or by mutual agreement (rupture conventionnelle).
Key takeaway
The CDI remains the gold standard of employment in Belgium — candidates consistently prefer it for the security and rights it confers, making it a key tool in the employer's attraction arsenal.
Définitions connexes
Fixed-Term Contract (CDD)
Employment contract with a defined start and end date, used for temporary or specific needs, subject to strict conditions in Belgian law.
Probationary Period
Initial period at the start of an employment contract during which either party can terminate the relationship with shorter notice, to assess mutual suitability.
Non-Compete Clause
Contractual clause prohibiting an employee, after leaving a company, from working for a competing employer or starting a competing business for a defined period and geographic scope.
Mutual Termination Agreement
Amicable termination of an employment contract by mutual agreement between employer and employee, allowing both parties to separate under negotiated conditions.