2021 Holidays - Belgium

Belgium Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend

- If a public holiday falls on a Sunday or a non-working day, it must be replaced by a substitute holiday.

- The substitute day must be on a normal working day, ensuring employees receive their full entitlement to public holidays.

- The replacement day can be determined by:

• A sectoral agreement (joint committee regulation)
• An agreement with the trade union representative
• A collective agreement between the employer and employees
• Mutual agreement between the employer and employee

- If no agreement is reached, the substitution day defaults to the next working day.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- If the holiday falls on Saturday, which is not a working day for some employees, a substitute holiday must be granted.

- The substitute day must be chosen as per labor agreements, following the same rules as Sunday holidays.

3. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- A holiday falling on Sunday is always replaced by a weekday holiday, ensuring workers do not lose their day off.

- The substitute holiday is often the following Monday, unless another day is agreed upon.

4. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- Belgium does not have an automatic system of bridge holidays, but companies can arrange them internally.

- Some sectors or employers allow employees to take a leave day when a holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, creating a four-day weekend.

- In certain cases, a compensatory working day (e.g., on a Saturday) may be scheduled in exchange for the extra day off.

5. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Regional Holidays:

• Flemish Community Day (July 11th)
• French-speaking Community Day (September 27th)
• German-speaking Community Day (November 15th)

- These are not official public holidays but may be observed in their respective regions.

- Religious and Movable Holidays:

• Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday are movable holidays that always fall on a Monday or Thursday, ensuring a long weekend.

6. Additional Notes

- The Belgian government and sectoral agreements define public holiday regulations annually.

- Private-sector businesses follow these rules, but companies with special working conditions may implement different substitution policies.

- Employees working on a public holiday are entitled to overtime pay or a compensatory rest day.

- Belgium strictly enforces substitution rules, ensuring employees always receive their full public holiday entitlement.