Working time rules in Belgium
In Belgium, the Labour Act of 16 March 1971 sets the limits for working hours and rest. The federal employment service (FOD WASO / SPF Emploi) explains the rules. Here is the summary, with links to the official pages.
Last reviewed: · Arbeidswet van 16 maart 1971 / Loi sur le travail du 16 mars 1971
The rules at a glance
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Normal working time | 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with a reduction to 38 hours per week on an annual basis | Arbeidswet art. 19 |
| Breaks | At least 15 minutes once working time exceeds 6 hours, unless a collective agreement or royal decree sets other rules | art. 38quater |
| Daily rest | At least 11 consecutive hours in every 24-hour period, between two working days | art. 38ter § 1 |
| Weekly rest | 35 consecutive hours, including the daily rest | art. 38ter § 3 |
| Night work | Work between 20:00 and 06:00 is not allowed in principle; many sectors and activities have exceptions | Arbeidswet art. 35 |
| Sunday work | Employees may not be put to work on Sundays in principle, with exceptions set by law | Arbeidswet art. 11 |
Last reviewed:
Normal working hours
The normal limits are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with a reduction to 38 hours per week on an annual basis. Many sectors organise this through their joint committee (paritair comité / commission paritaire) and the work rules (arbeidsreglement), so the actual schedule is often set at sector or company level.
For time tracking, this means the schedule in the work rules is the reference: hours outside it need a legal basis and are usually recorded and compensated separately.
Breaks and rest
Once working time exceeds 6 hours, the employee is entitled to a break of at least 15 minutes, unless a collective agreement or royal decree sets other rules. Between two working days, employees need at least 11 consecutive hours of rest in every 24-hour period. Over the week, they get 35 consecutive hours of rest, which includes the daily rest.
Night and Sunday work
Work between 20:00 and 06:00 is not allowed in principle, and employees may not be put to work on Sundays in principle. Both rules have many exceptions in the law, for example for continuous processes, care and hospitality, and sectors often add their own arrangements. If your team works nights or Sundays, check which exception applies and record those hours separately, because they are often paid at a different rate.
How TimeTracking helps
TimeTracking records start, end and breaks for every shift and exports approved hours to payroll as a configurable CSV or XLSX file. Public holidays for Belgium are built in. A Belgian rule pack with warnings for the limits above is not built in today, so check the rules yourself or set your own thresholds. Every change is kept in an audit log, which helps when a social inspector asks how hours were recorded. TimeTracking is free for up to 5 users; Core costs €1 and Pro €3 per user per month.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the normal working week in Belgium?
The normal limits are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, reduced to 38 hours per week on an annual basis.
When is a break required in Belgium?
Once working time exceeds 6 hours, at least 15 minutes, unless a collective agreement or royal decree sets other rules.
How much rest is required between two working days?
At least 11 consecutive hours in every 24-hour period, and 35 consecutive hours of weekly rest including the daily rest.
Related pages
Netherlands
Arbeidstijdenwet: 12 hours per shift, 60 per week, 11 hours of daily rest, breaks after 5.5 hours and strict night-shift rules.
France
Code du travail: 35-hour legal week (overtime threshold), at most 10 hours per day and 48 per week, 20-minute break after 6 hours, 11 hours of daily rest.
Break rules
Legal minimum breaks during a shift, based on how long the employee works that day.
Weekly timesheet
Seven days on one sheet with start, end, break and hours, signed by employee and manager.
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Free for up to 5 users. Core from €1 per user per month, everything included.
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