Clearly, the vast majority of European Union member states offer their workers for more legal rest days than Belgium. An observation surely felt by many Belgians, especially when the question of working time returns in force in public debate.
France in crisis … but always better lotie
In France, however better classified than Belgium, the situation is debated. Prime Minister François Bayrou recently presented an ambitious budgetary recovery plan, which notably provides for the abolition of two holidays. A symbolic measure, intended to increase productivity and to lighten public debt.
If it is adopted, the total of non-worked days of the French would go from 36 to 34, which would nevertheless maintain them above the European average, and always well in front of the Belgians. In France, some consider public holidays as a luxury that can no longer be afforded. In Belgium, they are taken for granted, even though they are fewer.
What rules in Belgium?
Belgian law provides 20 days of legal paid leave for full -time workers. This minimum, fixed by legislation, is strictly applied. To this are added 10 public holidays recognized nationally, as Christmas, the ascent, the Labor Day or on July 21.
If a public holiday falls a weekend, it can be replaced, but it depends on the collective agreements or an arrangement with the employer. In Belgium, there are no rules in Belgium to compensate for lost every day.
Unlike other countries where corporate conventions often make it possible to go far beyond this legal minimum, the Belgian system is quite rigid. And even if certain sectors or companies offer additional days, the standard remains austerity in terms of rest time.
Who works (really) the most?
The number of days not worked alone is not enough to judge working conditions in a country. Other factors come into account: weekly work duration, flexibility, private life-life balance, social protection. But the fact remains that the legal rest days remain an indicative among so many others. And the 30 Belgian days seem to be thin against European standards.
The card below allows you to visualize, country by country, the total of days not worked in the European Union. It adds the days of legal paid leave (minimum imposed by each state) and the recognized national holidays. Please note: these figures do not take into account weekends, recovery, or any more advantageous collective conventions.
And to fully understand what this comparison covers, remember that there are two types of days not worked: paid leave, acquired by the employee and taken freely according to the rules internal to the company, and the holidays, fixed by the calendar and identical for all, with regional exceptions.
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