Why is there an obligation for time registration?
The European Working Time Directive sets rules about, among other things, the maximum working time, daily and weekly rest periods, breaks, night work and annual leave. To check that these rules are followed, you must be able to show how much time your employees actually work.
The directive does not say which registration system must be used. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Member States must provide an objective, reliable and accessible system to record employees' working time.
Read more: "From 2027, time registration will be mandatory. A time clock is not necessary."
Is time registration already mandatory today?
No. In Belgium, there is currently no general legal obligation to register the working time of all employees. Specific registration obligations do exist for certain situations and employees, for example with flexible working hours, certain part-time work, flexi-jobs, student work and in some sectors.
The federal government has announced that it plans to align Belgian legislation with the European Working Time Directive. According to the current policy planning, the general obligation would start on 1 January 2027.
Are these measures official yet?
Not yet. On 5 February 2026, a draft resolution was submitted in the Chamber about the implementation of the Working Time Directive and the registration of working time. A resolution asks the government to follow a certain policy direction but is not a law itself.
The government still needs to turn the announced measures into concrete legislation. That legislation must then go through the full legislative process and be published in the Moniteur belge. Until then, the content, scope and timing may still change.
Which employees and employers will fall under the regulation?
The announced obligation would apply to employers in both the private and public sectors. The current preparatory approach does not necessarily start from a registration obligation for every employee.
Employees who are currently not subject to the rules on working hours might possibly be excluded. This includes, for example:
- Employees with a managerial function or a position of trust
- Commercial representatives
- Home workers, including structural and occasional teleworkers
- Employees with a mobile function
This overview is not final. The final law will decide which categories are precisely excluded and under which conditions.
Will you have to install a time clock soon?
No, that is not the plan. The announced regulation would not require you to use a specific system. You can choose the solution that best fits your company and the way your employees work.
However, your system must record the working time of each employee in an objective and reliable way. A time clock or badge system is only one option. Digital or manual registration systems can also be enough, as long as you can accurately determine the actual working time done.
When will the obligation come into force?
The planned date is 1 January 2027. This date is currently not yet in a final law. The government still needs to develop and approve the concrete regulation.
According to the current plan, there would also be a transition period. Employers who do not yet have a suitable registration system on 1 January 2027 would then have until 31 March 2027 to comply. Only from 1 April 2027 onwards would you need to have an appropriate system.
Our tip: You do not need to install a new system today. However, start by mapping how you currently register working time and whether your current data is reliable enough.
Good news: Securex integrates time registration into the tools you already use today, such as Officient and HR Accent. This way you will be ready once the new rules are finalised.
What does Securex do for you?
You do not need to worry yet about the detailed implementation of time registration. Securex closely follows the legislative process and ensures that you have a suitable solution in time.
We integrate time registration into the tools you already use, such as Officient and HR Accent. Do you need a more complete solution? Then you can rely on CrewPlanner or one of our specialised partners, such as Syntegro, GPS or Geodynamics.
This way you can keep working with confidence, while Securex supports you at every step towards the new legislation.
Sources
- Draft resolution on the implementation of the Working Time Directive regarding the registration of working time – Chamber, DOC 56 1353/001: https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/56/1353/56K1353001.pdf
- Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time – EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32003L0088
