Discover our summary of the major headlines in the insurance industry in Belgium with just a scroll!
EIOPA's insurance risk dashboard shows overall stability amidst persistent geopolitical tensions
30/01/2026 – Source
Rethinking careers : From linear paths to sustainable careers
30/01/2026 – Source
Many Belgian workers increasingly want to put their careers on hold or make them more flexible to explore parts of life we had not given much attention to until then.
A study by insurer NN shows that 43% of Belgian workers—and 53% of young adults—are interested in taking a career break, such as a sabbatical, to focus on family, travel, or education. Flexibility does not always mean a full stop: 62% are attracted by a four-day workweek with no salary reduction. Other popular options include digital nomadism (38%) and job swapping (29%). According to NN, careers should be seen as long-term marathons rather than linear sprints, where regular pauses and flexibility help people stay healthy, motivated, and productive over time
Fédérale Assurance – Branch 23 Funds: 2025 Performance
30/01/2026 – Source
2025 started on a volatile note, marked by geopolitical tensions and market uncertainty. A clear recovery followed in the second half of the year, with strong results in both Europe and the United States. Emerging markets also experienced a solid rebound. Thanks to these broad-based movements, funds with greater exposure to equities and growth regions benefited the most.
In this context, Fédérale Assurance presents the net returns of its products (period from 31/12/2024 to 31/12/2025).
BNP Paribas Seeks to Cut About 1200 Roles on Axa IM integration
23/01/2026 – Source
BNP Paribas is planning to cut up to 1,200 jobs following the integration of AXA Investment Managers, which operates in Belgium, according to sources cited by Bloomberg after reports by Les Echos.
The French bank recently completed the €5.1 billion acquisition of AXA IM, which will be merged into BNP Paribas Asset Management. With the deal finalized, the focus now shifts to operational integration, which is expected to involve significant job reductions. Discussions with trade unions are set to begin, based on a proposed voluntary departure plan, although the final number of affected roles may still change.
Road Safety and Gender
21/01/2026 – Source
When it comes to road safety, a recurring question arises: are women and men exposed to road risks in the same way? This is the question addressed in a new study by the VIAS Institute. While the issue may seem straightforward, it reflects complex dynamics at the intersection of biological, social, cultural, organizational, and behavioral factors.
Globally, road traffic accidents caused 1.19 million deaths in 2021. Men are significantly overrepresented among the victims, accounting for roughly three deaths for every one female death (WHO, 2023). To better understand these differences and inform effective action, the report provides an exploratory analysis of gender-related disparities in road safety.
The study pursues the objectives to examine the links between gender, accident rates, behavior, and risk perception and to propose ways to better integrate a gender perspective into research and public policy.
AG’s Branch 21 sees strong performance in 2025
20/01/2026 – Source
AG confirmed a strong year for guaranteed savings products. Branch 21 insurance combines a guaranteed interest rate with the potential for an additional profit-sharing bonus, making it attractive for savers seeking security and flexibility.
Distributed by BNP Paribas Fortis, these products are also appealing within pension savings and long-term savings schemes, as they offer tax advantages and aim for long-term investment horizons of at least eight years.
2025 gross overall returns include:
- Future Invest Bon (BNP Paribas Fortis): 3.10%
- AG Invest+ (via brokers): 3.10%
- Pension Invest Plan: 2.10%
- Top Rendement (subscriptions from 2022): 2.10%
Overall, AG’s Branch 21 products continue to offer a combination of capital security, guaranteed returns, and potential additional performance over the long term.
Myth or reality: do you really know all the specifics of car insurance?
20/01/2026 – Source
The opening of the 102nd edition of the Brussels Motor Show is the ideal opportunity for AXA Insurance to address and clarify some of the rumours, myths, and common misconceptions surrounding cars and car insurance. Let’s play a quick true or false game !
❌ FALSE
➡️ Find the detailed answers on AXA’s website
Motor insurance - Key figures 2024
09/01/2026 – Source
The Belgian insurance federation, Assuralia, also takes the opportunity of the launch of the Brussels Motor Show to highlight several key figures related to mandatory motor third-party liability insurance for private individuals in 2024:
- 6 million passenger cars (Passenger and Business category)
- 285,761 at-fault claims
- On an annual basis, 4.8 drivers out of 100 cause an accident
- Average cost per claim: €4,380
- 18,662 claims involving bodily injury
- Average cost of an accident involving bodily injury: €23,408
- Average net MTPL premium (Passenger and Business), excluding taxes: €320
Insurance premium taxes:
- Motor Third-Party Liability = 27.10%
- Comprehensive insurance (Omnium) = 26.75%
- Legal protection insurance = 16.75%
- Driver insurance = 16.75%
- Assistance / Breakdown insurance = 13%
Long-term absenteeism remains on the rise in 2025 but short-term declines
15/01/2026 – Source
In 2025, long-term absenteeism continues to rise in Belgium’s private sector. According to SD Worx data covering more than 1.2 million employees across 37,000 companies, 3.14% of private-sector workers were absent for more than one year, representing an 18% increase compared to 2020.
At the same time, short- and medium-term absenteeism declined. Only 65% of employees were absent at least one day due to short-term illness during the year, and the share of workers absent for more than one month dropped to just under 13%. Despite these improvements, more than one in ten working days (10.14%) is still lost to illness, and related costs continue to rise.
From January 1, 2026, companies with at least 50 employees will be required to pay a solidarity contribution equal to 30% of the sickness benefit during the second and third months of an employee’s incapacity, adding financial pressure.
Significant differences remain across sectors and company sizes, underlining the uneven impact of absenteeism in the Belgian private sector.
| < 1 month | > 1 month < 1 year | Non-absent workers | > 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65.24% | 13.32% | 29.99% | 3.07% |
| 2025 | 64.70% | 12.97% | 30.31% | 3.14% |
| Difference | -0.83% | -2.63% | +1.07% | +2.04% |
Source: SD Worx, 10 January 2026
AG certified “Top Employer’ and aims to hire 330 new employees
15/01/2026 – Source
AG has been certified Top Employer for the 14th consecutive year, achieving a record score of 94.11%, which confirms its position among the most attractive employers in Belgium. The company under Ageas stands out across all evaluation categories, reflecting its ongoing commitment to creating a work environment where employees feel:
- Heard – notably through the internal communication platform Heart, initiatives such as Let’s Talk with the CEO, surveys, and employee ambassadors;
- Supported – with a digital onboarding platform, personalized follow-up, internal communication groups, and regular check-ins that allow new colleagues to integrate smoothly;
- Encouraged to grow – through internal mobility, networking opportunities, a comprehensive learning platform, and the Talk2Grow feedback program
This well-thought-out HR approach is essential to delivering AG’s ambitious recruitment plans. This year, the company is looking to welcome 330 new colleagues across a wide range of functions.
Ethias expects to recruit around 250 external profiles in 2026
14/01/2026 – Source
For the 5th consecutive year, Ethias is also certified “Top Employer” and stands out with scores above sector averages. This certification confirms Ethias’ ability to continuously evolve in order to meet the expectations of its 2,005 employees and adapt to the ongoing transformation of its business activities. It highlights the strength and consistency of HR practices across the Ethias Group, with a clear commitment to high and shared standards in terms of well-being, flexibility, and talent development.
In 2025, Ethias recruited 201 new talents, demonstrating its strong attractiveness as an employer. Building on this momentum, the insurer expects to recruit around 250 external profiles in 2026 to support the evolution of its activities.
These recruitments will cover both the reinforcement of management and support functions, as well as specialized profiles in actuarial and quantitative fields. At the same time, Ethias continues to develop new areas of expertise related to artificial intelligence, data, and emerging technological uses.
