ARTICLE · 25 MAY 2021

Brexit - Employment Law

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This basic principle has been realized in the EU through (a) the absence of mobility restrictions for EU workers, (b) Regulations that coordinate workers' social security rights and benefits...

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Alexander Vandenbergen

Free movement of workers

One of the pillars of the EU Treaty is the free movement of workers.

This basic principle has been realized in the EU through (a) the absence of mobility restrictions for EU workers, (b) Regulations that coordinate workers' social security rights and benefits and (c) Directives that harmonize employment laws.

Brexit has a serious impact on the automatic right to travel and work freely across the EU.

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. However, due to the transition period agreed in the Withdrawal Agreement, the free movement only ended on 31 December 2020.

For the period as from 1 January 2021, a distinction must be made between workers who are covered under the Withdrawal Agreement and workers who are not.

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