Payment of salary

Verified 21 June 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

As an employee, your employer must pay you a salary in return for the work you do. Your salary must be paid to you regularly. Special provisions shall apply in the event of delay or non-payment of wages. We explain the conditions for payment of your salary.

General case

Your salary is paid mandatory once a month.

Non-monthly employee

You do not receive a monthly salary because of the nature of your employment (seasonal worker, temporary worker, temporary worker, temporary worker, home worker).

Your employer must pay you at least your salary twice a month, at least every 15 days.

FYI  

This payment period does not apply to any premiums or gratuities paid. These bonuses and bonuses can be paid at the end of the year, for example.

No payment date is imposed on your employer (except as provided by company agreement or collective agreement).

Your employer can pay you at the end of the month or during the following month, for example.

However, your employer must pay you every month at same period.

Your salary is paid to you working day, except in the case of payment by transfer.

By wire transfer

Payment of your salary can be made by bank or postal transfer of which you are the holder or co-holder.

You cannot designate a third party to receive your salary.

One pay slip , in paper or electronic format, is mandatory.

FYI  

If you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardian may request to receive your salary on your behalf. You can also collect your salary from your bank account, if you have one.

By check

Payment of your salary can be made by crossed check.

You cannot designate a third party to receive your salary.

One pay slip , in paper or electronic format, is mandatory.

FYI  

If you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardian may request to receive your salary on your behalf.

In cash

Your salary can be paid in cash if you ask your employer.

Your employer cannot oppose your request.

However, payment in cash is only possible if the salary is less than €1,500.

You cannot designate a third party to receive your salary.

One pay slip, in paper or electronic format, is mandatory.

FYI  

If you are under 18 years of age, your parents or guardian may request to receive your salary on your behalf.

Please note

if you are in direct contact with customers during your working time, you can receive a tip that's in addition to your salary. This applies in particular to staff employed in hotels, cafes, restaurants, concert halls or hairdressing salons.

You can ask your employer to pay you a deposit on your salary.

A payday deposit is the advance payment of a portion of your monthly salary.

You can only ask your employer to pay you a deposit during the 2e fortnight of the month.

The amount of the deposit is half your monthly salary.

Your employer cannot refuse to pay you this deposit for a period of work already done.

However, if you got a 1er down payment and you ask to collect a 2e in the same month, your employer can then deny you the benefit of the second.

The payment of a wage advance does not apply to seasonal, temporary, intermittent or home-based employees who are not monthly.

Warning  

It is appropriate to to distinguish the advance payment from the advance payment : advance pay is an amount that your employer agrees to give you in advance of scheduled hours of work but not yet completed. Your employer may refuse to pay you this advance on salary.

You can send a letter to your employer (with RAR: titleContent preferably to avoid any dispute), requiring payment of your salary.

A sample letter is available:

Request for payment of salary

You can also contact the labor council (CPH) to obtain payment of the sum claimed.

You have a period of 3 years to make this request, from the day you should have been paid.

FYI  

When a company is in financial difficulty and a safeguard, reorganization or bankruptcy procedure is initiated, all employees (even if they work abroad) benefit from the guarantee of payment of wages.

If the employer does not pay you your salary or pays it only partially or late, he commits a criminal offense.

The employer may then be ordered to pay up to €2,250 of fine.

The CPH may order the employer, possibly on a periodic penalty payment, to pay the sums due to the employee.

Of damages may be paid to the employee.

The judge may order the termination of the contract of employment for non-payment of wages by the employer.

In this case, you can collect the compensation provided in case of dismissal without real and serious cause.

If your employer does not honor his commitments and regularly late or no longer pays you your salary, you can send him a letter with  RAR: titleContent of formal notice obliging it to fulfill its obligations.

If the delay in payment or non-payment of your salary persists, the law allows you to stop your work.

If your employer has paid you an undue amount in error, they have the right to ask you to pay it back.

Payroll deduction cannot be greater than 10% of your net salary.

The employer may:

  • Arrange the terms of the refund amicably
  • Recovering amounts that were not to be collected (to the extent permitted for attachment on remuneration)
  • Initiate legal action to obtain reimbursement

The employer shall have a period of 3 years from the day he realizes his mistake to begin the procedures.

Please note

The pay stub must indicate the amount of the deduction and its nature.

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