Voluntary work

Everyone in Belgium can work as a volunteer. However, there are a number of conditions to do so according to the legal rules.

Voluntary work is, by definition, an unpaid and non-obligatory activity you perform for the benefit of others or society in the context of a non-profit organization and outside of your normal working context.

Working as a volunteer does not accumulate any rights under the social security system, since voluntary work is not paid. Volunteers may, however, receive a compensation for expenses for this type of work. You can receive a compensation for actual expenses if you can prove the expenses. You can also receive a fixed compensation for expenses as long as the allowed maximum amounts are observed.

These amounts are indexed every year. For 2011, the maximum is € 30.82 per day and € 1232.92 per year.