Working while you study

Student jobs are obviously only open to properly enrolled full-time students.

Employer and student need to sign an open-ended employment contract in writing before the student can start working. The contract has to define the duties and state the start and end dates of the contract, as well as the number of hours per day and per week, the wages and the date on which it will be paid.

A normal workday lasts about eight hours. By law the maximum workweek is 38 hours, but there are exceptions (for the hospitality industry for instance). The rules are even stricter for the under 18s. The (age-based) minimum wages also apply to jobbing students.

• Full information about bhg.common.blank_link_warninglaws and regulations governing student jobs (FR/NL) is available at Belgium.be.
• The website of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue too provides bhg.common.blank_link_warninglegal information over student job.
• The website of Actiris also offer bhg.common.blank_link_warningstudentjobs (FR/NL).

Generally speaking, jobbing students are recruited at source: at their universities and colleges. Keep an eye on the notice board or contact your school’s social services department.

Temporary employment agencies often have student jobs on offer too.

Some organisations are a source of jobs for students:

• bhg.common.blank_link_warningJobs for students (FR/NL) are posted on the Actiris website.
• You can also search using the term ‘studentjobs’ in the bhg.common.blank_link_warningVDAB database (NL).
• The website 'of Bruxelles-J has a list of useful links and addresses of bhg.common.blank_link_warningstudent job services in Brussels (FR).