Qu'est-ce que Remote Work ?

Definition

Remote work (télétravail/thuiswerk) is a work arrangement in which an employee performs their contractual tasks wholly or partly outside the employer's premises using digital technologies. It can be structural (a recurring fixed pattern agreed in the employment contract) or occasional (case-by-case, for specific circumstances).

In practice

In Belgium, remote work is governed primarily by Collective Agreement No. 149 of the National Labour Council (CNT/NAR), which came into force in 2022. Key provisions include: the right to request remote work for any employee, with the employer required to respond to such requests within a reasonable timeframe; employer obligations to provide necessary equipment (laptop, internet contribution, or allowances); formal documentation in an addendum to the employment contract; and specific rules for reachability and disconnection rights. The remote work cost allowance is €151.70/month (2024 rate), tax-free up to certain limits. Post-COVID, most Belgian knowledge-worker organisations have adopted hybrid models combining 1–3 days of remote work per week. Sectors and companies vary widely in their remote work policies, making it an increasingly important recruitment differentiator.

Key takeaway

Remote work has become a fundamental candidate expectation in knowledge work — Belgian employers who don't offer meaningful flexibility increasingly struggle to attract and retain talent.