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My employer has dismissed me. How much notice am I entitled to, and can I ask why?

In short

Yes, in most cases. The notice period depends on your length of service and when you started. In the private sector, if you have worked there for at least 6 months, you can ask in writing why you were dismissed.

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This rule in 70 seconds
Video transcript

Your employer has dismissed you. They handed you a letter and gave no reason. It depends: Notice depends on length of service: 8 weeks after 1 year, 18 weeks after 5 years. It must come by registered letter; by hand is not enough. The right way: In the private sector, with over 6 months' service, ask for the reason by registered letter within 2 months after the contract ends. If the employer fails: Wrong notification: Pay in lieu of notice; No reason given: 2 weeks' pay; Unreasonable dismissal: 3 – 17 weeks' pay.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • Your employer must give you notice of dismissal in writing: by registered letter (aangetekende brief / lettre recommandée) or through a bailiff (gerechtsdeurwaarder / huissier de justice). Handing you the letter in person is not enough.
  • The notice must state when the notice period (opzeggingstermijn / délai de préavis) starts and how long it lasts. If it does not, the notice is invalid and the employer must pay compensation in lieu of notice (opzeggingsvergoeding / indemnité de préavis).
  • Since 2014, the same scale has applied to blue-collar workers (arbeider / ouvrier) and white-collar employees (bediende / employé). For example: 1 year of service gives 8 weeks, 5 years of service gives 18 weeks. The notice period starts on the Monday of the week after notice is given.
  • New limits: for jobs starting after 1 June 2026, the notice period is no more than 52 weeks. For jobs starting after 1 August 2026, the notice period during the first 6 months is 1 week.
  • In the private sector, if you have at least 6 months of service, you can ask for the reason for your dismissal by registered letter (CAO nr. 109 / CCT n° 109). Ask no later than 2 months after the contract ends; the employer must reply in writing within 2 months.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
Not a fine, but compensation: if the notice does not comply with the rules, the employer pays compensation in lieu of notice. If you asked for the reason and the employer does not reply or gives no specific reason, the employer pays a penalty equal to 2 weeks' pay.

Legal basis:FOD WASO – Ontslagmotivering (cao nr. 109)

Court / prison
No prison sentence. If the court finds the dismissal “manifestly unreasonable” (kennelijk onredelijk / manifestement déraisonnable), it awards compensation of between 3 and 17 weeks' pay.

Legal basis:FOD WASO – Ontslagmotivering (cao nr. 109)

What really matters: the indirect consequences

Why does this rule exist?

The notice period gives someone who loses their job time or money to look for a new one. The right to ask for the reason protects workers against arbitrary and unfair dismissal. The same rules also give employers clarity.

Where can you go?

  • Accountant or social secretariatDimona, e-invoicing and tax obligations
  • Organisations for self-employed peopleFlanders: Unizo · Wallonia and Brussels: UCM
  • Tax office (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances)Declaring foreign property and accounts
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
13 / 13 statements in an official source
Checked: 22.10.2026
Last checked
22.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 13 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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