The Belgian House of Representatives’ Social Affairs Committee has approved an increase to 650 hours of the annual limit on student work.
Under the former government, the limit for tax-beneficial student employment was raised from 475 to 600 hours per year in early 2023 as a temporary measure ending last year. The new Arizona government’s agreement includes an increase to 650 hours per year.
Nieuw Vlaamse-Alliantie (N-VA) party leader Axel Ronse proposed a bill to implement this change, with contributions from members of other majority parties. The bill also gained support from the opposition Open VLD party, which had earlier submitted a proposal to raise the student work ceiling.
Although the bill received preliminary approval in mid-February, the opposition Parti Socialiste (PS) requested a second reading, which took place on Tuesday in the Social Affairs Committee. An amendment was approved allowing students to earn up to €6,840 per year before becoming fiscally independent from their parents, doubling the current cap.
The proposal will now go before a full session of the House of Representatives.
Another measure from the government agreement, lowering the age limit for student employment to 15 years, will be considered later.
