Become a student worker? Discover everything you need to know.

A student job is the ideal way to earn extra money, gain work experience, and develop skills that will be useful later on. At Recruit a Student Belgium, you can find student jobs in logistics, cleaning, car rental, and customer service, but that’s definitely not all. We work together with various companies, which means there are more opportunities than you might think. In this blog, you will learn who is allowed to work as a student, how many hours you are allowed to work, and what you are entitled to.

Who is allowed to work as a student worker?

Would you like to work as a student worker? You must be enrolled in full-time day education and be at least 16 years old. If you are 15, you may also work provided you have completed the first two years of secondary education. Students enrolled in part-time education or dual learning programmes may only work as student workers under certain conditions.

Have you just graduated? Good news: you can continue working as a student worker until 30 September of the year in which you graduate. This allows you to make good use of the period after finishing your studies.

How many hours can you work as a student worker?

As a student worker, you can work up to 475 hours per year at a reduced social security contribution rate. This makes student work financially attractive for both you and your employer.

The number of hours you may work per day and per week depends on your age and the sector you work in. In the hospitality sector, students aged 18 and over may work up to 11 hours per day and 50 hours per week. Those under 18 may work a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. In sectors such as car rental and cleaning, minors are also limited to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. For adults, this generally varies between 9 and 11 hours per day, depending on the applicable collective labour agreement.

What needs to be arranged before you start?

Before your first working day, a student contract must be drawn up and signed. You cannot start without a contract. You are also entitled to at least the minimum wage corresponding to your job category. In the hospitality sector, this wage may be up to two categories lower, but it must always be properly documented.

When everything is arranged correctly, you can start your student job with peace of mind.

Social security and salary: how does it work?

As long as you stay within the 475-hour limit, you only pay 2.71% in social security contributions. From the 476th hour onwards, this increases to 13.07%. You are also entitled to compensation for commuting between home and work. It is therefore important to keep track of your worked hours.

Why work as a student worker via Recruit a Student?

At Recruit a Student, we help you find a student job that matches your schedule, interests and talents. Whether you enjoy hands-on work in logistics, independent work in cleaning, variety in car rental, or customer-focused roles in customer service, there are many opportunities available.

Ready to gain experience, earn extra income and develop new skills? Register with Recruit a Student and discover the student jobs waiting for you. We take care of the right match, so you can make the most of your student job experience.

Ready to become a student worker at Recruit a Student?

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