Collective compensatory rest days: regime A or B
As a reminder, in the construction sector, your employees work 40 hours per week. To achieve an average of 38 hours, they receive 12 compensatory rest days each year. These days are set out in a sectoral collective labour agreement (6 days) and a royal decree (the remaining 6 days), making them immediately applicable to your company.
From 2026, there will be two different regimes, depending on the location of your establishment.
Regime A
Regime A applies to companies located in the Flemish Region and in the municipalities of the German-speaking Community.
In 2026, the following dates will be established through a collective labour agreement:
- Tuesday, 7 April 2026
- Wednesday, 8 April 2026
- Monday, 28 December 2026
- Tuesday, 29 December 2026
- Wednesday, 30 December 2026
- Thursday, 31 December 2026
In 2026, the following dates will be established by royal decree:
- Friday, 2 January 2026
- Friday, 15 May 2026
- Monday, 21 December 2026
- Tuesday, 22 December 2026
- Wednesday, 23 December 2026
- Thursday, 24 December 2026
Regime B
Regime B applies to companies located in the Walloon Region, excluding the municipalities that belong to the German-speaking Community.
In 2026, the following dates will be established through a collective labour agreement:
- Wednesday, 29 April 2026
- Thursday, 30 April 2026
- Monday, 28 December 2026
- Tuesday, 29 December 2026
- Wednesday, 30 December 2026
- Thursday, 31 December 2026
In 2026, the following dates will be established by royal decree:
- Friday, 2 January 2026
- Friday, 15 May 2026
- Monday, 21 December 2026
- Tuesday, 22 December 2026
- Wednesday, 23 December 2026
- Thursday, 24 December 2026
Deviation possible
The above regimes A or B are immediately applicable in your company, based on its location.
If you wish to apply the other regime at the company level, you must inform your employees of this choice by posting it in the company before 15 December 2025. You must also notify Constructiv of this deviation.
Read more in our analysis: Organization of daily and weekly work (full-time) | Securex
Choice for companies in the Brussels-Capital Region
Companies located in the Brussels-Capital Region have the choice between regime A or regime B.
This choice must be made by 1 December 2025 in agreement with the union delegation, if one is present in your company. If there is no union delegation or if there is no agreement, you as the employer must make this decision and communicate it to your employees by posting it in the company before 15 December 2025.
You must also inform Constructiv of this choice.
What information do we need from you?
If your company is located in the Walloon Region or the Flemish Region (including the German-speaking municipalities), Securex will automatically apply regime A or B based on your company's location.
If you have chosen to apply the other regime or if your company is located in the Brussels-Capital Region, please ensure you communicate your choice to your Client Advisor via myHR@securex.be.
Sources
- Collective labour agreement of 28 October 2025, amending the collective labour agreement of 10 February 2022, regarding the reduction of working hours (rest days 2026), no. 196.413/co/124
- Royal decree of 19 December 2025, amending the royal decree of 18 May 2022, establishing the rest days as a reduction of working hours granted to workers employed by employers falling under the Joint Committee for the construction industry, published in the Moniteur belge on 31 December 2025
