Avoid Liability for Illegal Employment
NEW REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026
Protect your business from chain liability when working with contractors and subcontractors.
Stay compliant, avoid penalties, and contribute to fair employment practices.
With ChainSafe.be you can manage these risks easily.
From January 1, 2026, new chain liability regulations will hold companies accountable for illegal employment throughout their supply chain.
What is Chain Liability?
Chain liability for illegal employment means that businesses can be held responsible if their contractors or subcontractors employ illegally staying third-country nationals. This system gives every link in the contracting chain more responsibility to intervene when illegal employment occurs.
The regulation applies to any domestic or foreign company directly or indirectly involved in activities carried out in Flanders Belgium, regardless of whether you work with Belgian or foreign contractors.
Compliance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended. If you trust that your (sub)contractor will not commit any violations, you can choose not to request any information.
However, you will then be liable if your direct (sub)contractor is caught employing illegally resident third-country nationals. In that case, you risk criminal prosecution or an administrative fine.
Who does chain liability apply to?
Principal Contractors
Companies that hire contractors for services or manual labour are responsible for verifying compliance throughout the supply chain.
Contractors
Direct contractors working for principals must ensure their own compliance and that of any subcontractors they engage.
Subcontractors
Even subcontractors further down the chain are responsible for ensuring they do not employ illegally staying workers.
Important: Every link in the contracting chain can potentially be held liable for employing illegally staying third-country nationals, whether as employees or self-employed persons.
Check Your Compliance Status FREE
The free self-assessment: a few short questions, about two minutes, no account needed — your result appears immediately on this page.
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All Sectors require a signed declaration
All companies operating in Flanders, Belgium, should request a signed declaration from their contractors, to avoid liability.
High-Risk Sectors require extra diligence
Companies operating in the following sectors must fulfill additional duty of care obligations:
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Cleaning Services | Meat Processing | Package Delivery |
Belgian Employment
- Valid passport or travel document
- Belgian residence permit
- Valid work authorization
- Dimona database registration
EU/EEA Workers
- Valid passport or travel document
- Proof of legal residence (min. 3 months)
- Limosa database registration
- A1 declaration (social security)
Non-EU Workers
- Valid passport or travel document
- Belgian residence permit/combined permit
- Valid work permit or professional card
- Limosa/Dimona registration as applicable
How to reduce your liability risk?
Visit ChainSafe.be for comprehensive guidance, tools, and resources to help your business meet the new chain liability requirements.
- Free assesment of liability and easy steps to follow
- Request declarations from subcontractors
- Prove compliance to customers
- Alerts when documents have expired
- Compliant with GDPR
- Avoid liability
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the compliance check on this website completely free?
Yes, the compliance check is completely free and has no hidden costs. Your result will be displayed after the final question. You can also choose to have the results sent to your email address at no charge.
Where do I find the official information of the Flemish Government on this new law?
You can read the official information on vlaanderen.be. Dutch: https://www.vlaanderen.be/werken/in-vlaanderen-komen-werken/ketenaansprakelijkheid-bij-illegale-tewerkstelling — French: https://www.vlaanderen.be/fr/entreprendre-et-investir/responsabilite-en-chaine-en-cas-demploi-illegal — German: https://www.vlaanderen.be/de/arbeiten/kettenhaftung-bei-illegaler-beschaeftigung — English: https://www.vlaanderen.be/en/working-enterprise-and-investment/working/chain-liability-for-illegal-employment
Is the information on this page available in other languages?
Yes, the information on this site is available in Dutch, French and English. Use the language switcher at the top of the page.