COVID-19: Belgian working from home reporting required from April

On 24 March 2021, the Belgian concertation committee announced that from April, employers must register monthly online the total amount of employees working for them and include separately the total number of employees that work in a role unable to be executed from home. Subsequently, the Belgian social security authorities have now provided more information including a link to the specific tool that must be used for employers to meet this reporting obligation.

When does the employer / company need to report?

From April, all employers must report employee data to the National Social Security Office (NSSO) every month (submitted at the latest on the 6th calendar day of that month):

• The number of employees working from home on the first working day of April 2021 (ie 1 April) should be declared by Tuesday 6 April 2021.

• The number of employees working from home on the first working day of May 2021 (ie 3 May) should be declared no later than Thursday 6 May 2021.

• The number of employees working from home on the first working day of June 2021 (ie 1 June) should be declared no later than Sunday 6 June 2021.

This period of reporting may be extended and will depend on the evolution and increase of the coronavirus case numbers and any other new measures taken by the federal and regional governments in Belgium.

How does the employer report?

Employers must register here to report the following information:

• Indicate whether your company has one or more business units. In the case of multiple business units, identify the business unit by its company number (ie KBO-number).

• Enter the total number of persons employed by the company, this must include:

  • Employees bound by an employment contract, traineeship contract, statute, etc, (flexi-employees under current framework agreements are to be taken into account).

  • Long-term ill employees, people on time credit as well as employees with an itinerant function (eg couriers, inspectors, etc.).

  • Temporary staff or structural staff of another employer working in your company (eg subcontractors, seconded staff, security personnel, etc).

  • Persons working in the company on a self-employed basis (eg consultants, partners, etc).

  • External contractors on the other hand (eg repairs, cleaning, maintenance etc.) are not to be taken into account.

• Enter the number of persons employed that are NOT working from home:

  • These are defined as any positions that, by their nature, have to be performed on site, eg blue-collar employees, technical staff, receptionists, kitchen staff, cleaning staff, administrative staff etc who cannot perform their duties from home.

  • This may also include itinerant positions such as inspectors, couriers, home help, etc.

Employers must also provide contact details where the government can reach the employer for further information.