Student Labor

Student Labor

Summer vacation is nearing its end. Many students have vacation or student jobs during the summer vacation but also wish to continue working as students in the coming months.

However, students are bound by many restrictions. We will help you further about what is possible and allowed.

The 600-hour rule

Every student receives from the government a package of 600 hours per calendar year. During these 600 hours, you can work without paying excessive social security contributions.

For you as a student, it is possible under the 600-hour rule to work if you:

• Student are;
• Are old enough (you are 16 or you are 15 and have already completed the first two years of high school);
• Not working when you are expected to attend training or other school activities.

Respecting the 600-hour rule

It is hugely important to respect the 600-hour rule and stick to the legal limits without exceeding them. As a student you can work about 600 hours per year at reduced social contributions (which are almost non-existent, because as a student you are almost not taxed). As soon as you go over those 600 hours as a student, you will be taxed higher, or at least, higher social security contributions will apply, so you will have less of your income from student work.

You may still combine those 600 hours as a student with 190 hours of association work (sports sector, sociocultural sector).

As a student, it is also very important that you respect the number of hours and respect the rules of the child support fund (i.e. the rules about the number of hours you can work per quarter). If you work more, your parents may lose their child support.

Furthermore, if you earn too much as a student, you may also have to pay taxes yourself, on the one hand, and your parents may have to pay more taxes because as a "child" you are no longer a dependent. For 2023, the amount was set at EUR 14,514.29 gross per year. As a student, you may earn more than EUR 14,514.29 gross per year, but keep in mind that you will have to pay taxes yourself.

Student@work

A very useful website for students is student@work. There, as a student, you can very easily find information about how many hours you have already performed during the year.

Would you like more information about this or to be assisted by a specialized lawyer? Please feel free to contact us at info@bannister.be or at 03.369.28.00.