For some work permit or single permit categories, an annual
salary threshold applies (e.g. for highly skilled third-country
employees). As a result of reduced activities because of Covid-19,
many employees are on temporary unemployment or employment
contracts are temporarily suspended. Since employees do not
receive salary or only receive it at a reduced rate during these
periods, this has an impact on annual salary.
The Flemish Region has announced that a period of temporary
unemployment is not taken into account when calculating the salary
threshold, regardless of whether the employee receives a benefit
from the National Employment Office ('NEO') because of
Covid-19 temporary unemployment. In other words, in the
calculation, the gross annual salary will be reduced pro rata with
the relevant period of unemployment.
