Japan
Belgium
Exchange rates: European Central Bank reference rates, 2026-10-23. Japan: Tokyo, Kyokai Kenpo, salary paid evenly each month with no bonus, no dependants. Belgium: White-collar employee (employé) resident in the City of Brussels (commune of Bruxelles/Brussel, 1000), Belgian tax resident and a Belgian national (no expatriate regime), aged 40, single with no dependants, individually taxed, salary only paid evenly as monthly pay (no 13th month, double holiday pay, meal vouchers or company car), income year 2026. Employee social security at 13.07% and the special social security contribution (individual scale); personal income tax with the standard 30% professional-expenses lump sum, the basic tax-free amount and the City of Brussels communal surcharge. Employer side: private-sector (category 1) employer at about 25% including wage moderation, before the structural reduction.
At three salary levels
| Salary (US$ equivalent) | Japan | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | Cost 1.14× Keeps 73% ¥9,408,202 | Cost 1.25× Keeps 64% €53,605 |
| $120,000 | Cost 1.10× Keeps 66% ¥18,816,403 | Cost 1.25× Keeps 53% €107,210 |
| $250,000 | Cost 1.05× Keeps 57% ¥39,200,840 | Cost 1.25× Keeps 47% €223,354 |
Employment rules compared
| Japan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory annual leave | 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken | 20 days (5-day week) + double holiday pay |
| Public holidays in 2026 | 18 | 10 (Brussels) |
| Notice of dismissal | 30 days, or pay in lieu | Weeks by service: 8 at 1 yr, 18 at 5 yrs |
| Severance required by law | None | Pay in lieu of notice; no separate severance |
| Typical negotiated exit | Commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave | No official benchmark |
| Probation | Commonly 3–6 months; dismissal still needs grounds | None since 2014 |
| Working hours | 40 a week; overtime capped at 45 a month and 360 a year | 38 h/week average, 8 h/day |
| How hard is dismissal? | Very hard: needs objectively reasonable grounds | Moderate: no prior reason, but not manifestly unreasonable |
| Women in management (ILO) | 14.5% (2023) | 33.1% (2024) |
Questions
What does a US$120,000 salary cost an employer in Japan and Belgium?
With the rates and exchange rates as of October 2026, in Japan (Tokyo, ¥18,816,403) the employer’s total cost is 1.10 times the salary; in Belgium (€107,210) it is 1.25 times. The employee keeps 66% of salary in Japan and 53% in Belgium.
Is it cheaper to employ someone in Japan or Belgium?
At this salary, the employer’s on-cost is lower in Japan. The ratio changes with pay, though: where contributions are capped, the on-cost falls as a share of salary for high earners. Enter the real salary in the calculator above to compare.
How do notice and severance compare?
Japan: 30 days, or pay in lieu; no severance is required by law, and negotiated exits are commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave. Belgium: notice is weeks by service: 8 at 1 yr, 18 at 5 yrs; severance required by law: pay in lieu of notice; no separate severance; typical negotiated exit: no official benchmark.
Which has more paid leave and public holidays?
Japan: 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken, and 18 public holidays in 2026. Belgium: 20 days (5-day week) + double holiday pay, and 10 public holidays in 2026.
Sources: Japan (Kyokai Kenpo, Japan Pension Service, MHLW, National Tax Agency, MIC). Belgium: every rate and rule is listed with its primary source on Belgium's HR data. Exchange rates: ECB reference rates (2026-10-23); for currencies the ECB does not quote, the central bank's rate.
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