Belgium to mandate employee working time registration by 2027

The Belgian federal government is preparing to introduce a mandatory requirement for all employers in both the private and public sectors to register employee working hours starting January 1, 2027. Employers will have until April 1, 2027, to implement an objective and reliable registration system.

This legislative move follows rulings by the European Court of Justice in 2019 and 2024, which emphasized that member states must ensure workers' rights regarding maximum working hours, mandatory rest periods, and breaks are enforceable through reliable time-tracking.

While the government will not mandate a specific technology or software, the chosen system must be transparent, reliable, and accessible. Certain roles, such as senior management and mobile staff, may be exempt from these requirements. While large companies in sectors like construction may already use similar systems, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may face more significant administrative adjustments.