Student work from age 15: what is allowed
Last updated: August 2026
A 15-year-old turns up for a holiday job, accompanied by a parent. You have work for them, and you wonder whether you are allowed to hire them.
Since recently, the answer is yes. But under strict conditions, and the notion of light work is not an administrative formula: it corresponds to a precise list of activities, set by Royal Decree. Stepping outside it exposes you.
The rule is recent, and its second half is easily lost. People remember "you can now hire from 15", rarely "for light work only".
In this article: on what conditions a 15-year-old can work for you, what light work actually covers, what remains prohibited, your administrative obligations step by step, and a summary table by age.
Can a 15-year-old work as a student?
Yes. A 15-year-old still subject to compulsory full-time education may enter into a student employment contract, exclusively to perform light work of a non-industrial nature.
This is new. Previously, access to the student employment contract was reserved for young people aged 16 and over, or for 15-year-olds who had already completed the first two years of secondary education. A 15-year-old at the start of secondary school could therefore not be hired as a student.
The legal basis is article 7.15 of the Employment Act of 16 March 1971, as amended by the Act of 18 December 2025 containing various provisions. The framework was completed by a Royal Decree of 19 April 2026, published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 4 May 2026 and applicable since 14 May 2026. That decree was the missing piece: without it, the notion of light work remained undefined, and the possibility of hiring remained theoretical.
Two limits frame this opening from the outset, and they are not negotiable.
The work may not harm the young person's safety, health or development.
The work may not hinder their schooling, nor their participation in a careers guidance or vocational training programme approved by the competent authority.
What counts as light work?
Light work is defined as work of a non-industrial and light nature. Two technical criteria settle most cases: the activity requires no specific training, and it is not performed with or on mechanical work equipment.
The Royal Decree lists three categories of activity.
1. Logistics activities
This covers: receiving, storage, weighing, packaging, labelling, order picking, stock management and dispatch of raw materials, goods or products.
In plain terms: a 15-year-old may take in a delivery, weigh and pack items, apply labels, prepare an order and help with stock management.
2. Light cleaning tasks
These are tasks with a low physical load, requiring little strength and of short duration: dusting, washing up, vacuuming, cleaning small spaces, emptying bins, cleaning windows at hand height and light sanitary cleaning.
One nuance deserves your attention: "of short duration" rules out a young person spending an entire day on a single one of these tasks.
3. Serving meals in the care sector
Distributing and clearing meals and drinks in the care sector. This point genuinely opens the door for residential care homes looking for summer support, on support tasks rather than care tasks.
The line will stay under scrutiny
Trade unions have publicly voiced reservations about the notion of light work itself, which they consider too open to interpretation. Expect that line to be closely monitored. Our practical advice: if you have any doubt about a task, do not assign it to a 15-year-old. The gain is small, the risk is real.
What remains prohibited
Working during school hours. This is the simplest and most closely monitored prohibition. A 15-year-old remains subject to compulsory full-time education: they may therefore only work during school holidays, at weekends and outside school hours.
Any activity outside the three listed categories. Using a machine, handling mechanical work equipment, performing a task that requires specific training: outside the framework.
Work prohibited for young workers. The rules on protecting young people at work prohibit certain activities and exposures, regardless of student status. That list comes on top of the limits of light work, and it does not replace them.
Hours that exceed the caps. During term time and outside school hours, working time is capped at 2 hours per school day and 12 hours per week. During a period of at least one week without school activities, the cap rises to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Daily working time may never exceed 8 hours, and work between 8 pm and 6 am is prohibited.
Your administrative obligations, step by step
Step 1: the student contract, in writing
The contract must be in writing and concluded at the latest when employment starts. It states, among other things, the job, the place, the duration, the schedule and the pay.
For a minor, the contract is concluded with the assistance of their legal representative. In practice, require the written consent of a parent or guardian and keep it in the file. That avoids any later dispute.
Step 2: the Dimona, before day one
The Dimona (immediate employment declaration) must be filed before the young person starts working. For a student it includes two specific elements: the start and end dates of the employment, and the number of hours planned per quarter.
That number of hours is not a formality: it feeds the tracking of the student's annual quota. Our article on the Dimona declaration for temporary workers sets out the procedure.
Step 3: tracking the 650-hour quota
A student has a quota of 650 hours per calendar year for which only a solidarity contribution is due, instead of ordinary social security contributions. Beyond that, ordinary contributions apply.
The quota belongs to the student, not to the employer. A young person who has already worked elsewhere may therefore have used part of their allowance. Have them check their balance, and document your check. Our article on student work 2026, rules, 650 hours and conditions covers the mechanism in detail.
Step 4: risk assessment and onboarding
Young workers are subject to a specific risk assessment obligation, before they start work. Add a real induction: what to do, what not to touch, who to turn to. Our article on what employers must check before onboarding a temporary worker provides the framework.
Step 5: insurance and documents
Occupational accident insurance also covers students, including for a two-week job. Check that your policy is in order and that the young person receives the relevant information from the work regulations.
What does a 15-year-old student cost?
Two elements determine the cost.
Pay follows your joint committee. There is no single "student wage" in Belgium. The applicable scale is that of your sector for the job performed. Some sectors provide specific scales for young workers.
Contributions are reduced within the quota. Within the 650 hours, the solidarity contribution replaces ordinary social security contributions. That is what makes student work financially attractive, for you and for the young person, who keeps a high net share.
A benchmark on minimum pay: the guaranteed average minimum monthly income stands at €2,189.81 since 1 April 2026 for workers aged 18 and over. The collective labour agreement that sets that amount does not apply to workers under 18: for them, the minimum corresponds to a decreasing percentage of that amount, lower the younger the worker is.
Our advice: never calculate a minor student's pay by feel. Start from the sector scale for the job, then check the percentage linked to age. A payroll partner or your social secretariat does that calculation in one step.
Summary table by age
| 15 years, compulsory full-time education | 16 and 17 years | 18 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student contract | Yes, light work only | Yes | Yes |
| Types of task | The 3 categories of the Royal Decree | Under the young workers rules | Depending on the job |
| Working during school hours | No | No | Depending on school status |
| 650-hour quota | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Student Dimona with hours per quarter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Young workers risk assessment | Yes | Yes | Not as such |
| Consent of legal representative | Yes | Yes | No |
What employers should remember
The opening is real, but narrow. A 15-year-old still subject to compulsory full-time education may work as a student since 14 May 2026, exclusively for light work of a non-industrial nature.
Three categories of activity, not one more. Logistics activities, light cleaning tasks, and distributing and clearing meals and drinks in the care sector. Two criteria settle it: no specific training required, no mechanical work equipment.
Never during school hours. School holidays, weekends and hours outside class only.
The paperwork does not change in nature. Written contract before employment starts, Dimona with hours per quarter, tracking of the 650 hours, risk assessment, occupational accident insurance.
If in doubt about a task, do not assign it. The notion of light work will be interpreted strictly in the event of an inspection.
How Recruit helps you
Hiring students and temporary staff without administrative worries? That is why we built Recruit.
With Recruit:
- Contracts in under 60 seconds - Create student and agency contracts without the hassle
- Dimona and social documents - We handle every declaration, including hours per quarter
- Automatic salary calculation - The right scale for the age and your joint committee
- Quota tracking - Keep an overview of hours worked by each student
- Personal support 24/7 - Always a dedicated contact who knows your company
Try Recruit or contact our HR experts for tailored advice.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can you hire a student in Belgium?
Since 14 May 2026, a 15-year-old still subject to compulsory full-time education may be hired under a student employment contract, for light work only. Previously, access was reserved for young people aged 16, or aged 15 having completed the first two years of secondary education.
What exactly is light work?
Work of a non-industrial and light nature, requiring no specific training and not performed with or on mechanical work equipment. The Royal Decree of 19 April 2026 lists three categories: logistics activities, light cleaning tasks, and distributing and clearing meals and drinks in the care sector.
Can they work in a shop or in hospitality?
Only for tasks that fall within the three categories. In a shop, receiving, storage, labelling and order picking are permitted logistics activities, but the decree does not cover serving customers. In hospitality, distributing and clearing meals and drinks is covered only for the care sector, while using a machine, a fryer or mechanical work equipment remains excluded everywhere. Assess each task separately.
Do the 650 hours also apply to 15-year-olds?
Yes. The quota of 650 hours per calendar year, with the solidarity contribution, applies whatever the student's age. It belongs to the student: hours worked for other employers count too.
Is parental consent required?
A minor concludes their employment contract with the assistance of their legal representative. In practice, request and keep the written consent of a parent or guardian before employment starts.
Can they work during the school year?
Only outside school hours, at weekends for example, and provided the work hinders neither their schooling nor an approved training programme.
The information in this article is purely indicative and does not replace professional legal or accounting advice. Student work legislation was amended recently. Always consult the applicable legislation, the FPS Employment or an HR expert for advice tailored to your situation.