Seasonal apple and pear picking jobs in Belgium: regions, pay and how to apply

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What does the Belgian fruit season involve?

Belgium is one of Europe's leading pear producers, with the Conference variety dominating orchards, while Jonagold apples and their mutants remain widely grown. Every autumn the harvest employs thousands of pickers working along trellised rows, either from the ground or from mobile picking platforms.

Picking is not the only opening. Growers also hire for hand thinning of young fruit in early summer, winter pruning and sorting in cold stores, so motivated workers can sometimes string several assignments together with the same fruit farm.

Where are the main orchards?

Production is concentrated in Haspengouw, known in French as Hesbaye, straddling Flemish Limburg and the province of Liège around Sint-Truiden, Borgloon, Tongeren, Waremme and Hannut. Smaller fruit areas exist in Flemish Brabant near Leuven and in parts of West Flanders.

Most fruit is then marketed through cooperatives and auctions, notably around Sint-Truiden, where it is stored under controlled atmosphere and graded through the winter. That grading and packing work creates a second wave of seasonal jobs once picking ends.

Month-by-month calendar

Conference pear picking normally starts in late August or early September, followed by apples from September to mid-October depending on the variety. Thinning runs in June and July and pruning from December to March. Exact dates shift each year with blossom timing and weather.

Typical tasks in the orchard

Pickers twist fruit off without bruising it, place it in a picking bucket or bag and empty it gently into large bins. Workers must follow size and colour instructions, use ladders or platforms safely and cope with long days on their feet outdoors.

Who is allowed to work in Belgian orchards?

Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland can work in Belgium freely without a work permit. A valid identity document is enough, together with a Belgian social security identification number that the employer can generate through the Dimona declaration.

Students, jobseekers and employees on leave

The horticultural occasional worker status is open to students, employees on holiday, pensioners and many jobseekers, subject to the rules attached to their benefits. Anyone receiving allowances should check with their payment body before signing, as undeclared overlaps can lead to repayment claims.

Non-EU nationals and the single permit

Third-country nationals need a seasonal work authorisation issued by the competent Belgian region and linked to their residence before travelling. For stays longer than 90 days this takes the form of a single permit covering both work and residence, applied for by the Belgian employer.

The procedure implements the EU Seasonal Workers Directive, which requires a fixed duration, an identified employer and adequate housing. People holding temporary protection, including many Ukrainians, already have direct access to the Belgian labour market without a separate permit.

Day limits under occasional status

Since 1 July 2023 an occasional worker may work up to 100 days per calendar year in horticulture, up from 65 previously, and 50 days in agriculture. The combined total across both sectors stays capped at 100 days, also for agency workers since the royal decree of 14 April 2026.

Pay and working conditions for fruit pickers

Since 1 July 2023 occasional workers in horticulture must receive at least the category one wage of their sub-sector. In fruit growing that rate stood at 12.64 euros gross per hour on 1 January 2024 for a 38-hour week, and it has been indexed since.

Social contributions and withholding tax

Social security contributions are calculated on a flat daily amount rather than actual earnings, which keeps costs low. Income tax withheld at source is 11.11 percent for Belgian residents and 18.725 percent for non-residents, according to information published for 2026.

The horticulture collective agreement allows part of the net wage to be paid in cash, capped at 65 euros per week for up to eight weeks a year, against a receipt signed in two copies. The remainder must be paid normally and appear on the payslip.

Working hours, housing and contracts

Days often start around 7 am and last eight to nine hours, with overtime possible at peak harvest. Some growers offer accommodation in caravans, containers or shared houses, usually for a fee, so the price and conditions should be confirmed in writing before arrival.

How to land a picking job, step by step

Recruitment for September crews often starts in June. The steps below apply to EU candidates; non-EU candidates must add the work authorisation procedure, which the employer launches several months before the season begins.

1. Pick a target area, Limburg or Liège Haspengouw, and fix your available dates.
2. Search VDAB vacancies in Flanders and Le Forem in Wallonia using terms such as fruitpluk or cueillette.
3. Prepare a short CV listing farm experience, languages and any driving licence.
4. Contact fruit growers and cooperatives around Sint-Truiden directly.
5. Get the status, hourly wage and housing terms confirmed in writing.
6. Provide identity documents and bank details for Dimona and payroll.
7. Keep payslips and a record of days worked to respect the annual cap.

Costs, documents and pay items at a glance

The table summarises the main items to plan for. Wage figures come from the sector agreements cited; other costs depend on the employer and region and should always be confirmed before travelling to Belgium.

Common mistakes and scams to avoid

Strong demand for pickers also attracts dishonest intermediaries. Most problems reported in Belgian orchards involve employment status, accommodation charges and visa promises sold for a fee by third parties.

• Paying a middleman for a job or permit: recruitment must be free for the worker in Belgium.
• Starting work without a Dimona declaration, leaving you without accident cover.
• Exceeding the annual day cap by working for several growers without tracking days.
• Accepting housing with no written price, later deducted heavily from wages.
• Arriving on a tourist visa expecting to regularise once in Belgium.

Do I need experience to pick pears?

No. Most growers train beginners on the first morning and mainly look for reliability, careful handling and good physical fitness. A successful first season frequently leads to an invitation from the same grower the following year, often with better tasks.

Can growers pay by the bin instead of by the hour?

Some farms add a productivity bonus, but the sector's minimum hourly wage is still owed. Piece-rate pay that drops earnings below that minimum is not compliant, so pickers should note their working hours every day as evidence.

How many days can I work under occasional status?

Up to 100 days per calendar year in horticulture, with one or several employers, and 50 days in agriculture, with the combined total capped at 100 days. Beyond that, the employer must switch to an ordinary contract with full social contributions.

Is Dutch required in Haspengouw?

Not necessarily. On the Limburg side instructions are often given in Dutch, but many international crews work in English, Polish or Romanian. On the Liège side French dominates. A few words of Dutch still make a real difference when growers choose staff.