In this article7 min read
A flexible workforce in a tight labour market
Belgian companies have been dealing with a tight labour market for years. Whether you are active in hospitality, retail, logistics or services: covering peaks without expensive permanent contracts is a daily challenge. Students offer a distinctive answer.
Through the student employment contract system you can put any enrolled student to work at a particularly favourable rate. And thanks to platforms such as Recruit a Student, you quickly find the right match for your sector.
hours a year at the favourable solidarity rate (from 2025).
employer solidarity contribution (against roughly 28% normally).
no maximum age; only enrolment is required.
The advantages at a glance
Why choose student work?
Sharply reduced contributions
You pay only a 5.42% solidarity contribution instead of the usual employer contribution of about 28%. An enormous saving for every extra pair of hands.
Fresh energy and motivation
Students are eager to learn, digitally skilled and bring new ideas. They work when you need them.
Maximum flexibility
You put students to work during peak periods, at weekends or in the holidays, exactly when your company needs extra hands, up to 650 hours a year.
Building your talent pipeline
Today’s students are tomorrow’s permanent staff. Use student jobs as a recruitment channel for young talent in your organisation.
Belgian legal framework 2025
Dimona “STU”
| Party | Contribution | Compared with the normal scheme |
| Employer | 5.42% | about 28% normally |
| Student (employee) | 2.71% | 13.07% normally |
| Total solidarity contribution | about 8.14% | about 41% normally |
In practice
How to get started
Check the student status
The student must be actively enrolled at a recognised educational institution (secondary, higher or university). There is no maximum age. Ask for proof of enrolment and check the available hours balance through the Student@work app.
File your Dimona “STU” declaration on time
The declaration must be submitted by the date employment starts at the latest. You report the number of planned hours per quarter. A late Dimona means the solidarity contribution cannot be applied to any of the hours in that period.
Draw up a written contract
State the parties, the job description, the pay, the working schedule and the duration of the contract (twelve months at most). Both parties sign before the start. Also give the student a copy of your work rules.
Respect the minimum wage
The student is entitled to the sectoral collective agreement minimum wage that applies in your company or, failing that, to the guaranteed average minimum monthly income, pro-rated by age where applicable.
Track the 650-hour counter
The quota applies across all employers together. Ask for the available balance through Student@work before the student starts with you, so that you know how many hours are still available at the solidarity rate.
“Student work is no longer a stopgap: it is a strategic choice for sensible employers who want to engage talent early.” Recruit a Student, labour market guide 2025
Sectors
Which sectors benefit most?
Student work is popular in almost every sector, but some benefit particularly strongly:
Hospitality and events
Weekends, public holidays and large events call for extra hands without a fixed wage burden. Students are the ideal buffer for your business. A bonus: in hospitality you can combine the 650 student hours with 50 extra days of occasional work.
Retail and e-commerce
The peaks around the holidays, the sales and Black Friday are exactly the moments when student work delivers most for your organisation.
Logistics and warehousing
Evening and weekend shifts are filled easily by students who are glad to earn something alongside their studies. That keeps your operation running without additional permanent contracts.
Administration and customer service
Many students have digital and language skills that can be used straight away in your back office or in customer contact.
Ready to find the right student?
Recruit a Student connects employers with motivated students across Belgium. Quickly, simply and fully in line with Belgian legislation in 2025.
Close to you, active across Belgium
Recruit a Student combines national coverage with the personal approach of a local student agency. From our offices in the main student cities we help employers fill their flexible staffing needs intelligently, with direct access to the local labour market and to motivated students who can start immediately.
Our recruiters know the region, know the students and are there for you at the following locations:
Active in your region too: besides our offices we are active throughout Flanders and Brussels. Thanks to our extensive student pools and regional recruitment networks we can find the right student very quickly anywhere in Belgium, even where there is no office nearby.
Your questions about student work answered
As an employer you probably have questions about how it works in practice, about your legal obligations or about working with Recruit a Student. Below you will find the answers to the most frequent questions.
How quickly can Recruit a Student supply students?
In most cases Recruit a Student can propose one or more suitable students within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your request. Complex or large-scale requests need a little more time. It is therefore advisable to submit your request in good time, preferably at least a week in advance.
Who is legally responsible if the student makes a mistake?
Liability depends on the nature of the mistake. As the formal employer, the agency carries responsibility for the employment relationship with the student. You, as the user company, are responsible for day-to-day instructions, working conditions and safety on the work floor. Damage caused during the assignment is usually handled through the agency’s liability insurance. Always discuss this beforehand and read the contract carefully.
Can I employ a student directly after the agency period?
Yes, that is possible in principle. Most contracts contain a clause stating that you can only employ a student directly after a certain period, or after paying a transfer fee. Discuss this with Recruit a Student in good time if you are considering taking a student on permanently.
What if a student is ill or does not turn up?
In case of illness or absence the student reports to the agency. You pay only for the hours actually worked; no continued payment obligation rests on you. The agency tries to arrange a replacement as quickly as possible. For short assignments or shifts a replacement is not always guaranteed. Take that into account in your staff planning.
Do I have to sign a contract as the employer?
Yes, you sign a one-off cooperation agreement with Recruit a Student. It sets out the general terms, the agreed rates, liability and your obligations as the user company. For each assignment or placement you receive a confirmation. The contract between the agency and the student is handled entirely by the agency.
Can I also hire a student for long-term projects?
Certainly. Besides short assignments you can hire students for projects lasting several months. Do bear in mind that for longer assignments the student becomes entitled to equivalent employment conditions to your own staff in a comparable role. The agency informs you as soon as this applies.
How do time sheets and approval work?
Recruit a Student works with a digital time registration system. The student records the hours worked each day and you approve them weekly through the online portal or by e-mail. On the basis of the approved hours, Recruit a Student automatically generates the student’s payroll and your invoice. Everything is transparent and traceable.
Is there a minimum number of hours or a minimum assignment length?
Recruit a Student keeps the threshold low: even a single day or a few hours is possible, depending on availability and the role. Usually a minimum of 3 to 4 hours a day applies to make the assignment worthwhile for both the student and your company. Ask about the specific minimum requirements with your request.
Can I request a specific student who has worked for me before?
Yes, in most cases that is possible. If you have had a good experience with a particular student, you can state that preference with your next request. The agency then approaches that student first to confirm availability. It is an excellent way to build a trusted fixed pool of students for your business.
