Study Finds Religious Volunteering Lowers Job Prospects in Belgium Amid Headscarf Dismissal

A preregistered study by Ghent University scholars Louise Devos, Louis Lippens and Stijn Baert asked 177 recruiters from Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia to assess four standardized applicant profiles, generating 708 evaluations. Candidates who cited voluntary work for a church or mosque scored 0.676 points less on an 11-point hiring scale than those who listed secular community service, with no significant difference between Christian and Muslim volunteering.

Displaying a cross or headscarf did not independently affect scores, but higher perceived religiosity reduced interview odds. Recruiters attributed the penalty to anticipated resistance from coworkers and customers rather than doubts about ability. Concurrently, the provincial government of East Flanders dismissed special-education teacher Hadija Amajoud for refusing to remove her Islamic headscarf, despite her positive performance record, after a June 2024 neutrality code barred visible religious symbols. Her appeal and proposed compromise of wearing a neutral turban were rejected, prompting union-backed legal challenges.