Night Work: End of the General Prohibition as of 1 June 2026?

Belgian employment law currently provides for a general prohibition on night work, meaning that, in principle, employees may not be employed between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

However, this prohibition is significantly mitigated by numerous exceptions, which apply in specific sectors, to certain categories of employees, or for defined activities where the nature of the work justifies it.

Where an employer benefits from such an exception, it may introduce a working time regime involving night work through a specific procedure. This procedure does not apply, however, in cases of force majeure, inventory work, or the preparation of annual accounts.

A bill currently under consideration by the Chamber of Representatives provides for the complete abolition of the prohibition on night work across all sectors. This reform, stemming from the federal coalition agreement, forms part of the broader objective of the Minister of Employment and Economy to enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Belgian labour market. In practice, it could have a significant impact for both employers and employees.

The proposed reform has nevertheless given rise to divergent views.

Supporters point out that the current prohibition has already been largely hollowed out due to the wide range of existing exceptions. Its abolition would therefore contribute to simplifying the regulatory framework.

In addition, an expansion of night work—currently below the European average (3.4% in Belgium in 2024 compared to 4.6% across the rest of Europe)—could help stimulate the labour market.

Moreover, the measure could have a positive impact on employment levels. If Belgium were to reach the European average, it is estimated that this could result in approximately 8,464 additional jobs. It would also strengthen the competitiveness of working conditions in Belgium and help limit the relocation of jobs to other European countries.

Furthermore, existing premiums for night work would be maintained in the majority of sectors in order to ensure income security for the employees concerned, while at the same time providing greater flexibility for employers.

Conversely, critics of the bill highlight several potential drawbacks.

In particular, concerns have been raised regarding the impact on employee health and safety. The expansion of night work could lead to a significant additional workload for occupational health services, which are already under considerable pressure, as well as an increase in the number of employees subject to mandatory medical surveillance.

Additionally, some fear that abolishing the prohibition could, in practice, lead to a normalisation of night work, thereby undermining its exceptional nature under current Belgian law.

In the context of ongoing parliamentary discussions, the entry into force of the bill—already postponed to 1 April 2026—has been further delayed to 1 June 2026.