In Belgian federal law, associated discrimination is not mentioned in the wording of the anti-discrimination laws in the form of the Racial Equality Federal Act, the Gender Act and the General Anti-Discrimination Federal Act. However, in the preparation of these laws, the ECJ’s decision on Coleman was addressed and it was confirmed that in a case of associated discrimination, the federal laws must be interpreted in conformity with the Directives in this respect in Belgium.

On 10 December 2013, in case 12/1064/A Jan V.H. v BVBA V(only in French and Dutch), the manager of a fitness centre was found liable for discrimination by association. He dismissed an employee because of the disability of the employee’s child. The employer had to pay compensation amounting to six months’ salary and further compensation for damages to the employee. This case was the first time that a Belgian court dealt with associated discrimination. The Leuven Labour Court referred directly to the ECJ’s decision regarding Coleman v Attridge in its reasoning. The court held that discrimination because of proximity with persons with disabilities was implicitly prohibited at the federal level  and would form the basis for direct discrimination.