Under 18: access to work and working hours
Directive 94/33 protects young workers, regardless of their contract type. Check age, compulsory schooling requirements and job risks before hiring a minor.
Articles 1 to 4 prohibit child labour, with limited exceptions to be implemented nationally. Under the text, an adolescent is at least 15, under 18 and no longer subject to compulsory full-time schooling. A European exception does not remove the need to check the corresponding authorisation in Belgium.
In the consolidated version of 26 July 2019, Articles 8 to 12 generally provide for adolescents to work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with 12 consecutive hours of daily rest and a break of at least 30 minutes when work exceeds 4 and a half hours. Night work is restricted. Articles 6 and 7 require a prior risk assessment and prohibit certain hazardous tasks. Check the more protective Belgian rules and the specific exemptions.