Higher holiday contributions for manual workers from October 2026
The Council of Ministers has approved a draft Royal Decree to temporarily increase the contributions for the annual holiday of manual workers. This measure will apply from 1 October 2026 until 31 December 2033.
Read more: "Higher holiday contributions for manual workers from October 2026"
New amount for kilometre allowance
Do your employees use their own vehicle for professional travel? You can then pay them a kilometre allowance. As long as you respect the applicable ceiling, this allowance is exempt from tax and social security contributions. From 1 October, the amount will be adjusted.
Read more: "Km allowance with quarterly indexation from 01/10/26"
A higher bicycle allowance in JC 200
From 1 October 2026, the bicycle allowance in JC 200 will increase from €0.27 to €0.32 per actual kilometre cycled, with a maximum of €12.80 per working day (for a maximum of 40 km round trip).
An employee who cycles 15 km each way, 15 km back to work every day (30 km per day) received a bicycle allowance of €8.10 per working day before 1 October 2026 (30 km × €0.27). From 1 October 2026, this amount will increase to €9.60 per working day (30 km × €0.32), an increase of €1.50 per day.
Read more: "Employment agreement 2025-2026"
Social elections 2028: reference period starts on 1 October 2026
Whether you must organise social elections in 2028 depends on your average number of employees. From 50 employees, you must establish a CPPW, and from 100 employees, also a Company Council.
For this calculation, the average number of employees during the reference period from 1 October 2026 until 30 September 2027 is taken into account. The counting therefore starts on 1 October 2026.
Our tip: Is your company close to the threshold of 50 or 100 employees? Then it is worth reviewing your personnel file in good time. The timing of recruitments or departures can determine whether you have to organise social elections in 2028.
National trade union action against federal savings on 9 October
ABVV and ACV are organising a national day of action on 9 October 2026 against the government's austerity policy. Employees who participate are considered absent due to strike and are not entitled to pay for the hours not worked. It is advisable to check in advance what impact the action may have on your organisation so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Read more: "Is there a difference between a strike and a trade union demonstration?"
From summer to winter time
On the night of Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October, the clock will be turned back one hour: three o’clock becomes two o’clock. This can sometimes affect the pay of employees working in shifts. This is regulated by collective labour agreement no. 30 of the National Labour Council dated 28 March 1977.
Read more: "Switching summer time/winter time and vice versa"
What does Securex do for you?
Every quarter, we organise a webinar on current social affairs. In this webinar, we discuss the important updates you should not miss, such as the mandatory mobility budget and new budgetary measures. Read more: social current affairs training.