25-10-2023

The system of relance hours was introduced during the corona crisis to cope with the exceptional increase of work in the crucial sectors. It was later extended to all other sectors.

This system of "relance hours" was extended for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025 (the Act of 20 July 2023 following the Interprofessional Agreement 2023-2024).

Relance hours have some similarities to voluntary overtime under the Labour Act:

• thus, employer and employee must enter into a written agreement of maximum six months;

• no compensatory rest should be granted for the overtime worked.

The relance hours can be granted on top of the voluntary overtime (in principle 100 per calendar year) with a maximum of:

• in the period from 1 July to 31 December 2023: 120 additional relance hours;

• in 2024: 120 additional relance hours;

• in the period from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025: 120 additional relance hours.

No priority mechanism for voluntary overtime has been stipulated. Thus, the employer can first agree on a system of relance hours, and subsequently also agree on voluntary overtime with the same employee, or vice versa.

There are also differences between the voluntary overtime system and relance hours:

• Relance hours do not require overtime pay (50%, or 100% on Sundays or public holidays);

• Unlike voluntary overtime, relance hours are free of social security contributions and withholding tax. Gross is net.

Relance hours may not exceed the limit of 11 hours/day and 50 hours/week.

If you would like more information on this, please do not hesitate to contact us.