Switch to daylight saving time on 30 March

Sunday 29 March 2026 at 2 a.m. we will switch again to summer time. Does this affect the pay of some workers?

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On that day, we turn the clock forward by one hour (2 a.m. becomes 3 a.m.) and get one hour less sleep that night. But does this also mean some workers lose pay?

Impact on pay for some workers

For workers on duty during the night of 28 to 29 March, this change may affect their pay.

A collective labour contract (CLC) agreed by the National Labour Council sets out how this pay should be calculated. The CLC applies to workers who:

Work in shifts
Are not paid a monthly flat rate (usually manual workers)
And work during the time change

If the same shift works during the time change in summer and winter

Where possible, the shift that works during the switch to summer time should also work during the switch back to winter time. This balances things out: if a normal shift is 8 hours, these workers will work 7 hours and 9 hours respectively on these two nights. Their pay for both nights will be the same as for a normal 8-hour night shift.

If a different shift works during the time change in summer and winter

If it is not possible for the same shift to work on both nights, the pay is calculated as follows:

Workers who work only 7 hours due to the switch to summer time will still be paid for 8 hours
Workers who work 9 hours due to the switch to winter time will be paid for 9 hours

Examples of Thomas, Aline and Mark

We assume the switch back to winter time will happen in October. Based on this, here are some examples.

Thomas will work a shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the night of 24 to 25 October 2026. He will also be in the shift working during the switch to summer time.

Aline will also work a shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the night of 24 to 25 October 2026. Unlike Thomas, she will not be in the shift working during the switch to summer time the previous weekend.

Finally, Mark will have worked only in the shift during the switch to summer time at the end of this month. He will not work the night of 24 to 25 October 2026.

	Shift work during both the switch to summer time AND the switch to winter time	Shift work only during the switch to winter time	Shift work only during the switch to summer time
Number of hours for pay calculation	Thomas will be paid for 8 hours each time	Aline will be paid for 9 hours	Mark will be paid for 8 hours

If a worker works during the time change but is not part of a shift work system, the CLC does not apply. Their pay is then based on the actual hours worked, so for work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., 7 hours during the switch to summer time and 9 hours during the switch to winter time.