At a glance
- Amendments approved on 22 March 2026 enhance the existing care leave regime, with changes taking effect from 1 July 2026.
- The maximum duration of full-time care leave is clarified as six months per person requiring care.
- New flexibility allows full suspension of employment in weekly increments (subject to employer consent).
- Part-time care leave arrangements are expanded to allow one-month periods, in addition to existing two-month blocks.
- Care leave entitlement is extended to include situations where the person receiving care resides in an institution, subject to minimum presence requirements
The Belgian Parliament has adopted the Act of 22 March 2026, introducing amendments to the existing care leave framework established under the Act of 12 May 2014. The changes will take effect from 1 July 2026 and aim to provide greater flexibility for employees providing care to individuals with significant care needs.
Under the existing regime, care leave is available to employees who provide at least 50 hours of care per month to a dependent person, irrespective of family relationship. Recognition must be obtained from the relevant health insurance fund (mutuality), which then enables access to financial support from regional authorities. In some cases, additional allowances may also be granted at municipal level.
The amendments clarify that full suspension of employment for care purposes may be taken for up to six months per person requiring care. While full-time leave continues to be available in monthly blocks without employer consent, the new rules introduce the possibility of taking such leave in weekly increments, subject to employer approval.
The framework for part-time care leave is also expanded. Employees may continue to reduce working time to half-time for periods of up to 12 months in blocks of two months. From 1 July 2026, this arrangement may also be taken in one-month blocks, although employer consent is required in this case. The existing 1/5 reduction option remains unchanged, with a maximum duration of 30 months.
In addition, the amendments confirm that care leave may be taken in respect of individuals residing in institutions providing permanent care, such as hospitals or care homes, provided that the individual leaves the institution for at least one day per week or for a minimum of 30 days per year.
These changes are intended to align the care leave regime more closely with the practical needs of carers and provide increased flexibility in how leave may be taken.
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