Basis on which contributions are calculated

1.1. Social security contributions

Basis: Legislative Order 07/02/1945, art. 3, Royal Decree 13/01/2014, Flemish Government Orders 13/11/2015, Flemish Government Order 23/09/2016

1.1.1. Employer contributions

The social security contributions shall be calculated on the basis of the seafarer's wage. The seafarer's wage is understood to refer to: the standard pay plus overtime and all allowances that are allocated to the person concerned.

1.1.2. Employee contributions for seafarers employed on sea-going ships registered in a Member State of the EEA

The contributions of seafarers who are employed on seagoing vessels carrying goods or passengers (at least 13 passengers) that are registered in a Member State of the EEA (see ‘Registers of Member States of the EEA’, below) shall be calculated on the seafarer's wage, with a ceiling of the amount that applies in the pension scheme and applied during the calendar year prior to the current year. The annual wage ceiling for the year 2023 is set at 76.395,98 euro.

The aforementioned ceiling applies to contributions for seafarers that are employed by an shipowner belonging to the maritime dredging sector, on sea-going dredging ships with their own propulsion which are equipped to transport a cargo on the sea, for which a certificate of registry is provided in a Member State of the EEA, and whereby at least 50% of operating time involves transport at sea.

The aforementioned ceiling also applies to contributions from seafarers who are employed on seaworthy dredgers, which are registered in a Member State of the European Economic Area, whereby at least 50% of operating time involves transport at sea. A proportionate share of the waiting time shall be eligible as sea transport for the calculation of the intended threshold of 50%.

The aforementioned ceiling also applies to the contributions of seafarers employed by a shipowner on vessels pursuing one of the following activities:

• laying cables on the prepared seabed,
• laying pipes on the prepared seabed,
• towing and lifting infrastructures in connection with installation and maintenance works at sea,
• research of the seabed in connection with installation and maintenance works,
• targeted discharge of rocks on the seabed in connection with installation and maintenance works at sea,
• transport of parts at sea in connection with installation and maintenance works at sea,
• transport and accommodation of persons in connection with installation and maintenance works at sea.

In relation to shipping companies in the merchant shipping sector, this regime shall only apply if the shipowner has an operating base in the Flemish Region or an operating base in an EEA Member State (outside Belgium).

Registers of the Member States of the EEA

Registers of Member States include:

• all primary registers of Member States,
• the following registers that are localised in Member States and are subject to the law thereof:
  • DIS: the Danish International Register of Shipping,
  • ISR: the German International Register of Shipping,
  • MAR: the International Register of Shipping of Madeira,
  • the Italian International Register of Shipping,
  • the Register for the Canary Islands,
  • the Register of Gibraltar.

1.1.3. Employee contributions for seafarers employed on sea-going ships not registered in a Member State of the EEA

The social security contributions shall be calculated on the basis of the seafarer's wage. The seafarer's wage is understood to refer to: the standard pay plus overtime and all allowances that are allocated to the person concerned.

1.2. Industrial accident premium

Basis: W. 10/04/1971

The industrial accident insurance premium and the surcharge for reintegration of disabled persons will be calculated on a fixed basic wage depending on the rank of the seafarer. You can consult the fixed basis wages via the daily seafarer's wages on the social security portal (in French).

1.3. Additional premium for time spent in a war zone or risk of piracy

Basis: Royal Decree 28/12/1971, art. 6bis

A) Premium for zone with increased risk of piracy

Since 15 June 2015, merchant shipowners have to pay an additional premium to Fedris to cover the risk of piracy. The premium amounts to 0.164% of the basic wage per person per day spent in the ‘increased risk’ zone as set out in the decision by the Committee for Merchant Shipping of 21 April 2015 to activate the collective labour agreement for piracy, i.e. the Gulf of Aden + 400 nautical miles from the east coast of Somalia with the borders:

• to the west: coastline on the border of Djibouti and Somalia to position 11 48 N, 45 E; from 12.00N, 45 E to Mayyun Island in the Bab El Mandeb Straits;
• to the east: from Rhiy di-Irisal to Socotra Island to position 14 18 N, 53 E, from 14.30 E to the coastline on the border between Yemen and Oman, together with a zone of 400 miles from the east coast of Somalia, i.e. from Socotra Island downwards to the border with Kenya in the south.

An additional premium for remaining in a zone with an increased risk of piracy of 0.164% of the basic wage per person per day spent in the zone is owed from 7 July 2015 for remaining in the Gulf of Guinea and, more specifically, the territorial waters of Benin and Nigeria, including the ports and terminals, the delta area of the Niger river, the inland waterways and port facilities, except if the ship is safely moored in a monitored port area. The day of entering and the day of exiting the zone shall both be regarded as full days unless entry and exit occur on the same day.

B) Premium for zone with reduced risk of piracy

An additional piracy premium of 0.016% of the basic wage for remaining in the zone with a lower risk of piracy, in accordance with the area within which the Royal Decree of 11 February 2013 permits the use of private security, and this borders the area where an additional piracy premium is already provided at a rate of 0.164% of the basic wage.

The Royal Decree of 11 February 2013 extends the area for which the use of a maritime security company is authorised for the protection of the ship against piracy to the maritime area in the Gulf of Guinea from the boundary of the territorial waters of the coastal States concerned, the maritime boundaries of which are defined by joining the following coordinates:

1. 17° 20’ 00 Z, 11° 50’ 00 O
2. 17° 20’ 00 Z, 10° 00’ 00 O
3. 10° 00’ 00 Z, 10° 00’ 00 O
4. 0° 00’ 00 Z, 0° 00’ 00 O
5. 0° 00’ 00 Z, 10°00’ 00 W
6. 10° 00’ 00 N, 20° 00’ 00 W
7. 20° 45’ 00 N, 20° 00’ 00 W
8. 20° 45’ 00 N, 17° 00’ 00 W

The day of entering and the day of exiting the zone shall both be regarded as full days unless entry and exit occur on the same day.

C) War zone premium

An additional premium for remaining in a war zone of 0.328% of the basic wage per person per day spent in the zone is payable from 7 July 2015 for remaining in the ports of Yemen: a ship is considered to be in the war zone from the moment that it moors to the time at which it leaves its moorings. The day of entering and the day of exiting the war zone (...) shall both be regarded as full days unless entry and exit occur on the same day.

1.4. Special contribution for social security

Basis: act 30/03/1994

The act of 30 March 1994 implements a special contribution for social security for the account of the employees. This contribution varies according to the employee's wage rate and family circumstances (single or a family with two incomes). The amount of the contribution is proportionate to the annual taxable family income. The administration for direct taxes implements the annual, definitive tax settlement. The amounts paid to the NSSO are therefore advances for the annual contribution.

You can find detailed information in the section about special social security contributions of the Administrative instructions of the NSSO on the social security portal (in French).

1.5. Reduction of employees' contribution for employees with low wages (work bonus)

Basis: act 20/12/1999

The act of 20 December 1999 implements a system, as of 1 July 2000, of reducing employees' contributions. The intention is to guarantee employees with a low wage a higher net wage, without increasing the gross wage.

The work bonus comprises a fixed amount that is gradually reduced as the wage increases. Further information about the work bonus (in French) can be found in the NSSO's administrative instructions.

1.6. Non-statutory contributions

Non-statutory contributions for financing the 'Social Security Fund’ in the Belgian merchant shipping sector are owed either in the form of a contribution percentage levied on the social security wage, or in the form of a fixed amount per day for which statutory social security contributions are owed.

The NSSO informs the shipping companies about the non-statutory contributions owed, but is not responsible for collection.