Belgium decided to follow in Germany’s footsteps on Friday. The latter on 7 December in order to combat the current wave of covid infections that rolls over the area.

The agreement between Belgium and Luxembourg--which had already been extended until the end of 2021-- allows all 48,000 Belgian cross-border workers to work from home without incurring a double tax. 

the two countries had already agreed to move from 24 to 34 days of remote work for Belgians employed in Luxembourg, though Belgian federal MP Josy Arens (CDH) aims for 48 days a year. 

“The flexibility announced today extends to the first quarter of 2022 the intention not to count teleworking days to take account of the fifth wave of the pandemic that is affecting all of Europe,” said retiring finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP), thanking his Belgian counterpart Vincent Van Peteghem for the “excellent collaboration” between both countries during the pandemic. 

Should nobody contest the agreement by mid-March 2022, it will be extended further until the end of June 2022. 

Currently, employers in Luxembourg have no obligation to allow teleworking, though the Belgian government, due to the rapidly growing number of covid infections, has imposed mandatory teleworking for four days a week until 13 December.