Part-Time Work Before Retirement in Belgium: New Rules
Belgium has tightened the rules for workers who want to reduce their working hours near the end of their careers through a system known as “landingsbaan” in Dutch.
The system allows eligible employees to work fewer hours while receiving a monthly interruption payment from the National Employment Office, known as RVA. It is designed to help older workers gradually move from full-time employment toward retirement.
However, the rules changed on January 1, 2026, and workers now face stricter career requirements.
What Is a Landingsbaan in Belgium?
A landingsbaan is a form of career reduction for older employees. Depending on the conditions, workers can reduce their employment to half-time or work four days instead of five.
The arrangement can continue until retirement, provided the employee meets the applicable requirements.
The RVA can provide a monthly interruption payment, although receiving the payment is subject to additional conditions.
Is the Minimum Age 55 or 60?
The general rule is 60 years old. Workers can normally receive a landingsbaan with an RVA payment from age 60, provided they meet the required career history and other conditions.
There are exceptions that allow certain workers to qualify from age 55. These include workers with a long career, those who have worked in a heavy occupation, certain night workers, some construction workers who are medically unable to continue their work, and employees in certain companies undergoing restructuring or facing financial difficulties.
For these exceptions, additional career requirements apply.
Stricter Career Requirements From 2026
One of the biggest changes concerns the number of career years required for workers aged 60 and older.
For applications starting in 2026, the requirement is:
- Men: at least 31 years of career history
- Women: at least 26 years
The requirement will increase gradually each year.
By 2030, workers will need:
- Men: 35 years
- Women: 30 years
This means women currently have a lower career requirement than men under the transitional rules.
Can You Start a Landingsbaan at 55?
Yes, but only if you meet one of the specific exceptions.
For example, a worker may qualify from age 55 after building at least 25 years of employee career history and meeting additional conditions, such as having worked in a heavy occupation or having a long record of night work.
Workers using the “long career” exception generally need 35 years of career history.
These special rules are currently provided for under the applicable collective agreements and can also depend on the sector in which the person works.
Other Conditions
Age and career history are not the only requirements.
Workers generally need at least 24 months of seniority with their employer when they notify the employer in writing, unless the employer and employee agree to a shorter period.
There are also separate employment requirements depending on whether the worker wants to reduce their schedule by one-fifth or move to half-time employment.
For example, a one-fifth landingsbaan generally allows a full-time employee to move to a four-day workweek. A half-time arrangement allows an eligible employee to reduce their work to 50%.
Why Did Belgium Change the Rules?
The changes are part of broader reforms affecting career-ending arrangements and retirement.
The government has kept the possibility of reducing working hours near retirement, but it has tightened the career-history requirements. The goal is to make the system more closely targeted at workers who have spent a significant part of their careers in employment.
The rules also recognize different career-history requirements for men and women during the transition period.
What Workers Should Know in 2026
If you are approaching retirement and considering a landingsbaan, do not look only at your age.
You should also check your total recognized career history, your employment history with your current employer, your work schedule and whether your job qualifies under one of the special rules for access from age 55.
The RVA recommends checking your career history before applying because the calculation can determine whether you qualify.
The rules can also differ depending on whether you are seeking the right to reduce your working hours, the RVA payment, or both.
For anyone planning to reduce their working hours before retirement in Belgium, checking the latest RVA rules before submitting an application is essential.
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