Signing of the Japan-Belgium Social Security Agreement

February 23, 2005

1. The Agreement between Japan and the Kingdom of Belgium on Social Security [PDF] (Japan-Belgium Social Security Agreement) was signed on Wednesday, February 23 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium in Brussels, between Japanese Ambassador to Belgium Shohei Naito and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht of Belgium.
   
2. It has been a pending issue between Japan and Belgium that employees who are temporarily dispatched to Belgium by Japanese corporations and others are forced to join the pension system of both countries, thus imposing economic burden on the corporations and employees.
   The Japan-Belgium Social Security Agreement, intended to solve this and other relevant issues, adjusts the application of the social security systems of Japan and Belgium, and stipulates that those temporarily dispatched employees for a period of five years or less shall in principle enroll only in the pension system of the country from which the employee is dispatched.
   
3. It is expected that the conclusion of this Agreement will reduce the burden imposed on the corporations and employees as well as further promote personnel and economic exchanges between Japan and Belgium.

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