One election dominates 2028: the social elections
Unlike 2024, when Belgians voted for almost everything at once, 2028 has a single nationwide electoral event: the social elections (élections sociales / sociale verkiezingen). They take place every four years in private-sector companies and elect the employee representatives of two bodies:
- the Works Council (Conseil d'entreprise / Ondernemingsraad), and
- the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work (CPPT / CPBW).
No federal, regional, European, provincial or municipal elections are scheduled for 2028.
When exactly in 2028?
The previous edition ran from 13 to 26 May 2024. The 2028 elections are expected over a similar two-week window in May 2028; the exact dates are fixed by law and confirmed by the Federal Public Service Employment. Each company then picks its own voting day ("day Y") within that window.
The procedure starts long before voting day:
- ±December 2027 (day X-60): the employer communicates the technical business units, staff numbers and management functions
- ±February 2028 (day X): official announcement of the election date in each company
- X+35: trade unions submit their candidate lists
- day Y (May 2028): voting, counting, and allocation of seats
Which companies must organise elections?
The thresholds are based on the average number of employees during a reference period:
- 50 or more employees: a CPPT/CPBW must be elected
- 100 or more employees: a Works Council must be elected as well
The count is made per "technical business unit", which does not always match the legal entity.
Who votes?
All employees of the company may vote, whether or not they belong to a trade union, provided they have at least three months' seniority. Temporary agency workers can vote at the company where they work if they meet a minimum-presence condition.
Voters are grouped into electoral colleges: blue-collar workers, white-collar employees, and - where the workforce justifies it - separate colleges for young workers (under 25) and, for the Works Council, management staff (cadres).
Who is elected?
Employees elect employee representatives for a four-year mandate. Candidates appear on lists presented by the representative trade unions - FGTB/ABVV, CSC/ACV and CGSLB/ACLVB - and, for the cadres college, also by the CNC/NCK or individual "house" lists. Seats are distributed proportionally.
The employer side is not elected: management appoints its own delegation.
Can the vote be electronic?
Yes. Since the rules were modernised, companies may organise electronic voting, including from any device and any location, provided this is agreed unanimously within the existing council or committee (or with the union delegation). E-voting removes paper logistics, speeds up counting and makes it easier for remote and field staff to participate - read how to prepare a tender for an online voting tool or see our social elections service.
What about the other Belgian elections?
For completeness, the next dates of the other elections:
- Federal, regional, community and European elections: every five years - next in June 2029 (the Chamber's 150 seats, the regional and community parliaments, and Belgium's 22 seats in the European Parliament: 13 Dutch-speaking, 8 French-speaking, 1 German-speaking)
- Municipal and provincial elections: every six years - next in October 2030 (traditionally the second Sunday of October)
So if your company reaches the 50- or 100-employee threshold, 2028 is your election year - and the preparation starts at the end of 2027.
