What are flash inspections?
Flash inspections are mainly designed to inform and prevent issues. The planned actions are announced in advance on the SIOD website. By providing this information ahead of time, every company has the chance to comply. Sanctions will only be imposed in cases of serious or repeated violations.
Our tip
Join our free webinar on 17 March 2026 to prepare effectively for a potential inspection.
What does the inspection look for?
In addition to moonlighting (RSZ declaration) and illegal employment (single permit, work cards and permits), the social inspection also examines other social obligations within your company:
- Labour regulations
Including all work schedules and mandatory annexes, such as the annex on psychosocial risks. - Labour contracts and annexes
For example, contracts for part-time work, student work, flexi-jobs, or temporary work. - Control cards of unemployed workers
- Dimona declaration
- Occupational accident insurance
- Registration of deviations from work schedules
If applicable: documentation or registration system for deviations for part-time workers (more/less hours or varying work schedules compared to the planned fixed or variable work schedule).
The inspection also checks compliance with specific obligations in your sector.
For the moving sector, for example:
- The proof of periodic inspection of lifting and hoisting equipment (moving lifts) and the certificate of training to operate this equipment safely.
- List of registered vehicles/license plates and proof of transport permit
For the transport sector, for example:
- The digital tachograph data
- Proof of completed mandatory training (code 95)
- Daily performance sheets prepared with the mandatory mentions from the collective labour agreement and signed by both the employer and the employee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a flash inspection 'less strict'?
Not necessarily. Flash inspections are announced, preventive inspections with an informative purpose. However, inspectors can still write a report and impose sanctions for serious or repeated violations. Therefore, ensure your company is compliant.
Can inspectors come unexpectedly?
Yes. Flash inspections are announced at the sector level, not for individual companies. Inspectors have broad powers to enter workplaces without prior consent. However, authorization or consent is required for private areas. An unannounced visit to your company is therefore possible.
What if something is missing?
For minor shortcomings, you will usually first receive a warning and a deadline to comply. Serious or repeated violations can lead more quickly to a report and possible sanctions. Prevention is better than cure.
How do I prepare my team for flash inspections?
Make sure everyone knows who will speak to the inspectors, where the necessary documents are located, and what needs to be shown. Keep identification documents, labour contracts, and employment documents readily available. A short briefing beforehand can help reduce stress.
What are the possible sanctions?
The Social Penal Code provides for administrative fines, criminal fines, and even imprisonment. The severity of the fine or the imposition of a prison sentence depends on the level of the violation.
Example
In the transport sector, the calculation of wages and allowances for employees must be based on a daily performance sheet.
The employer is obliged to provide this daily performance sheet to the employees. If a paper version is chosen, this is done in duplicate, with one completed copy for the employer and one copy for the employees. From 1 January 2021, there is the option to use a digital performance sheet.
Read more about this obligation in our analysis
These obligations are established in a sectoral collective labour agreement of 24 September 2020, declared universally binding by royal decree of 2 April 2021.
If a violation of a universally binding collective labour agreement is found by the employer, this is punished with a level 1 sanction. The fine is multiplied by the number of employees involved.
This involves an administrative fine between 100 euros and 1.000 euros.
Read more about the various violations and sanctions in our file
How Securex helps you
Legal advice & document preparation
Do you have questions about social legislation or want to ensure that your documents comply with sectoral rules? We can update your labour regulations, labour contracts, and policies tailored to your joint committee.
We can also conduct an audit on wages and working conditions, Dimona declarations, part-time work, and more.
On-site assistance during inspection
Has an inspection been announced in your company? Our experts are ready to assist you on-site and defend your interests.
