Context

From 1 April 2007, a prior duty of notification towards the National Office for Social Security or the National Institute for the Social Security of the Self-employed has been introduced for “posted” workers, trainees and self-employed persons, as explained in our headline of 26 January 2007.

A limitative number of categories of individuals have been excluded from this obligation, such as employees and self-employed persons attending scientific congresses or attending closed meetings as far as their stay does not exceed 5 days in a calendar month (Royal Decree of 20 March 2007).

This time limit of 5 days, however, caused a wave of negative reactions from abroad as well as the cancellation of a large number of congresses and international meetings in Belgium. Since it was not the intention of the Limosa notification to discourage the organisation of scientific congresses or meetings in Belgium, legislative modifications were urgently required.

News

In yesterday’s Official Gazette (*), the new Royal Decree of 31 August 2007 has been published, modifying the Royal Decree of 20 March 2007 as follows:
- Employees and self-employed persons who come to Belgium to attend scientific congresses are excluded from the Limosa notification. A time limit is no longer applicable.
- Employees and self-employed persons who come to Belgium to attend meetings in closed circle (such as business meetings and business trips) are excluded from the Limosa notification to the extent that participation in these meetings does not exceed 60 calendar days a year and the participation per meeting does not take longer than 20 consecutive calendar days.

These modifications enter into force with retroactive effect to 1 April 2007.

(*)http://news.hrservices.be?lk200709131