Governance
Social Penal Code (SPC)
The consolidated legal framework in Belgium for sanctioning violations of social and employment legislation.
Definition
The Belgian Social Penal Code, enacted by the Act of 10 June 2010, harmonizes and simplifies the administrative and criminal sanctions for breaches of various social, labor, and social security laws. It establishes a system of four sanction levels, detailing fines, imprisonment, and other penalties, and outlines the powers of social inspectorates for investigation and enforcement. The SPC serves as the primary instrument for ensuring compliance with Belgium's social legislation, including pay equity and anti-discrimination laws.