Sunday work

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Last updated more than 5 years ago

In principle, Sunday work (from midnight to midnight) is prohibited for all employees and apprentices.

However, it is authorised for certain categories of employees, in certain sectors of activity and for certain specific tasks which cannot be carried out during the week.

In this case, the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (Inspection du Travail et des Mines - ITM) must be notified.

Sunday work is subject to a compensatory rest period and specific remuneration.

Certain businesses may also request a derogation from the ban on Sunday work from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy.

Who is concerned

Categories of workers eligible to work on Sundays

The following can work on Sundays:

  • members of the employer's family in establishments where only his ascendants, descendants, brothers and sisters or relatives of the same degree work;
  • travelling salesmen and sales representatives, as they work outside of the company;
  • persons with an effective management role and senior managers whose presence is vital in order to oversee and manage the business properly.

Adolescents (from 15 to 18 years of age) benefit from special protection against Sunday work.

Sectors of activity where Sunday work is allowed

The following can operate on Sundays:

  • businesses in the sales sector, as long as the working times on Sundays do not exceed 4 hours;
  • hotels, restaurants, canteens and drinking establishments or any other establishment serving beverages;
  • pharmacies, drugstores and medical and surgical equipment stores;
  • fairground undertakings;
  • agriculture and viticulture undertakings;
  • public entertainment establishments;
  • businesses whose activities are related to the distribution of energy, electricity or water;
  • transport companies;
  • businesses whose activity is related to health care or education;
  • domestic staff;
  • businesses who use water as their sole source of energy;
  • seasonal businesses;
  • businesses whose activities have to be carried out on Sundays in order to meet public needs;
  • businesses whose activity is deemed to be of public interest.

Types of work which are authorised on Sundays

Sunday work is authorised for:

  • surveillance of business premises;
  • work which is necessary for the continuous operation of a business (cleaning, repair and preservation tasks) or in order to enable work to resume on Mondays (other than production);
  • work required to prevent the deterioration of raw materials or products (on condition that it cannot be carried out on another day of the week);
  • urgent work which must be carried out immediately in order to:
    • organise rescue measures;
    • avoid imminent accidents;
    • or repair damages to equipment, installations or buildings.

Urgent work allows for Sunday work for the employees in the business concerned as well as for the employees of the business carrying out the repair works.

Businesses who may be granted a derogation

The following business can benefit from a derogation:

  • sales establishments in certain specific locations;
  • companies operating 24/7;
  • businesses in the process of being set up.

Prerequisites

Retail businesses must also ensure they comply with the compulsory closing hours.

Salary premiums must be added together when:

In order to receive an exceptional authorisation for Sunday work, the application for authorisation has to be submitted to the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM). Business managers also have to inform the staff delegation of the work which allows for Sunday work and submit a list with the workers assigned to Sunday work, the duration of their occupation and the nature of the work carried out or to be carried out.

It must be noted that the business manager is under the obligation to post a copy of the list of workers assigned to Sunday work at all the main entrances of the working place(s).

The list contains:

  • the date(s) of Sunday work;
  • the working times;
  • the number of staff concerned;
  • the nature of their work.

The law provides for Sunday work in specific cases and only on a temporary basis. Employers who temporarily resort to Sunday work must first request the staff delegation's opinion and communicate a copy thereof to the ITM.

How to proceed

Derogation from Sunday work

Retail stores in certain geographic locations

In certain towns in Luxembourg, the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy may grant temporary or permanent derogations from the ban on Sunday work if the closure of the retail establishment on a Sunday could compromise its normal business operation because of:

  • the establishment's significant turnover on Sundays, and;
  • the impossibility to serve a sufficient overall number of customers on the other days of the week.

These cases must be duly justified.

Companies operating 24/7

Companies in which the work is organised by successive teams in continuous shifts may be granted a derogation from the Sunday ban on condition that they sign a company agreement with the representative trade unions at national level (who must also be represented in the staff delegation) who represent the staff concerned.

This agreement must then be approved by the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy. It has to be concluded in the interest of:

  • a better use of the production equipment;
  • and the increase in the number or the consolidation of existing jobs

If one or more trade unions oppose the agreement, the minister can grant a derogation after having consulted with the company staff. This consultation is in the form of a secret ballot under the supervision of the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM).

Businesses in the process of being set up

In the context of starting up a business, the employer can request a derogation from the Sunday work ban to the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy, on condition that it is in the interest of:

  • a better use of the production equipment;
  • the creation of new jobs.

Notification of Sunday work

Before carrying out any work on Sundays, employers have to:

  • inform the staff delegation by sending them:
    • a list of the employees working on Sundays;
    • the duration of their work;
    • and the nature of the work to be carried out;
  • send a declaration of Sunday work by fax to the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) to the following number: 247 96100 (the original must be kept in case the ITM carries out a subsequent inspection).
    The form must be signed by:
    • the staff delegation;
    • the business manager or his deputy.

The notification, application or declaration can also be submitted online via the specific procedure on the MyGuichet.lu platform.

In the event of urgent work, the staff delegation and the ITM must be informed immediately when the emergency occurs.

Moreover, the employer must also post a notice at the main entrances of the business indicating:

  • the list of the employees concerned by the Sunday work;
  • the duration and the nature of the work to be carried out, except in the case of urgent work.

Payment for Sunday work

Each time an employee works on a Sunday, the employer must grant him
either:

  • his/her standard hourly pay;
  • and a 70 % premium for each hour worked;

or:

  • compensatory rest;
  • and the 70 % premium for each hour worked.

The salary premium is exempt from taxes, without limit, regardless of the number of hours worked by the employee.

Option 1: payment for Sunday work

Remuneration for the hours actually worked

100 %

+ 70 % premium for the hours worked on a Sunday

70 %

TOTAL

170 %
Option 2: compensation and payment for Sunday work

1 day of compensatory rest

1 day

+ 70 % payment for the hours worked on a Sunday

70 %

TOTAL

1 day + 70 %

The duration of the compensatory rest is:

  • a full day if the Sunday work exceeded 4 hours;
  • a half day if the Sunday work did not exceed 4 hours. In this case, on the day where compensatory rest is granted, it must be granted before or after 13.00 and the duration of work may not exceed 5 hours.

In the catering, agriculture and viticulture sectors, employees who work at least on 20 Sundays per year are entitled to 2 extra days of paid leave (in addition to the compensatory rest period), which will be added to the employee's annual leave.

The employer must also record in a special register or dedicated file (to be presented to the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines:

  • the hours worked on Sundays;
  • the corresponding payments.

Protection of adolescents

Adolescents (and apprentices) cannot work on Sundays, except in the event of force majeure or if the existence or safety of the company is at stake:

  • in order to avoid a major disruption of the normal business operation;
  • and when the use of adult workers is not legitimately possible.

In this event, the employer must submit a declaration of Sunday work to the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines without delay and state the reasons.

Extended authorisation for Sunday work

Employers can apply to the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy for an extended authorisation for Sunday work concerning adolescents (and apprentices) for the following businesses:

  • hotels, restaurants, cafés, tea rooms;
  • clinics, health and day care establishments for older and/or dependent persons;
  • children's homes and centres responsible for the education and care of children.

The validity period of the authorisation is indicated in the document sent to the employer.

Remuneration and compensatory rest

Even if Sunday work has been authorised, adolescents must rest every second Sunday. However, in the catering and hotel sector, this limitation is not applicable in July and August.

Each time an adolescent works on a Sunday, the employer must grant them:

  • the remuneration for the hours actually worked;
  • a 100% premium for each hour worked;
  • and a paid compensatory day of rest to be granted within 12 days.
Remuneration for an adolescent working on a Sunday

Remuneration for the hours actually worked

100 %

+ 100 % premium for the hours worked on a public holiday

100 %

+ 1 day of compensatory rest

1 day

TOTAL

1 paid day + 200 %

Forms / Online services

Notification / demande / déclaration d'heures supplémentaires ou de travail du dimanche

Les informations qui vous concernent recueillies sur ce formulaire font l’objet d’un traitement par l’administration concernée afin de mener à bien votre demande.

Ces informations sont conservées pour la durée nécessaire par l’administration à la réalisation de la finalité du traitement

Les destinataires de vos données sont les administrations compétentes dans le cadre du traitement de votre demande. Veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée par votre demande pour connaître les destinataires des données figurant sur ce formulaire. Conformément au règlement (UE) 2016/679 relatif à la protection des personnes physiques à l'égard du traitement des données à caractère personnel et à la libre circulation de ces données, vous bénéficiez d’un droit d’accès, de rectification et le cas échéant d’effacement des informations vous concernant. Vous disposez également du droit de retirer votre consentement à tout moment.

En outre et excepté le cas où le traitement de vos données présente un caractère obligatoire, vous pouvez, pour des motifs légitimes, vous y opposer.

Si vous souhaitez exercer ces droits et/ou obtenir communication de vos informations, veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée suivant les coordonnées indiquées dans le formulaire. Vous avez également la possibilité d’introduire une réclamation auprès de la Commission nationale pour la protection des données ayant son siège à 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux.

En poursuivant votre démarche, vous acceptez que vos données personnelles soient traitées dans le cadre de votre demande.

Benachrichtigung / Antrag / Meldung von Überstunden oder Sonntagsarbeit

Ihre in diesem Formular erfassten personenbezogenen Informationen werden von der zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörde verarbeitet, um Ihren Antrag erfolgreich abzuschließen.

Diese Informationen werden von der Behörde für den zur Verarbeitung erforderlichen Zeitraum gespeichert.

Die Empfänger Ihrer Daten sind die im Rahmen Ihres Antrags zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörden. Um die Empfänger der in diesem Formular erfassten Daten zu erfahren, wenden Sie sich bitte an die für Ihren Antrag zuständige Behörde.

Gemäß der Verordnung (EU) 2016/679 zum Schutz natürlicher Personen bei der Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten und zum freien Datenverkehr haben Sie das Recht auf Zugang, Berichtigung und gegebenenfalls Löschung Ihrer personenbezogenen Informationen. Sie haben zudem das Recht, Ihre erteilte Einwilligung jederzeit zu widerrufen.

Weiterhin können Sie, außer in Fällen, in denen die Verarbeitung Ihrer Daten verpflichtend ist, Widerspruch einlegen, wenn dieser rechtmäßig begründet ist.

Wenn Sie diese Rechte ausüben und/oder Einsicht in Ihre Informationen nehmen möchten, können Sie sich unter den im Formular angegebenen Kontaktdaten an die zuständige Verwaltungsbehörde wenden. Sie haben außerdem die Möglichkeit, bei der Nationalen Kommission für den Datenschutz Beschwerde einzulegen (Commission nationale pour la protection des données, 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux).

Wenn Sie Ihren Vorgang fortsetzen, akzeptieren Sie damit, dass Ihre personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihres Antrags verarbeitet werden.

Modification de la durée du temps de travail

To complete your application, the information about you collected from this form needs to be processed by the public administration concerned.

That information is kept by the administration in question for as long as it is required to achieve the purpose of the processing operation(s).

Your data will be shared with other public administrations that are necessary for the processing of your application. For details on which departments will have access to the data on this form, please contact the public administration you are filing your application with.

Under the terms of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, you have the right to access, rectify or, where applicable, remove any information relating to you. You are also entitled to withdraw your consent at any time.

Additionally, unless the processing of your personal data is compulsory, you may, with legitimate reasons, oppose the processing of such data.

If you wish to exercise these rights and/or obtain a record of the information held about you, please contact the administration in question using the contact details provided on the form. You are also entitled to file a claim with the National Commission for Data Protection (Commission nationale pour la protection des données), headquartered at 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux.

By submitting your application, you agree that your personal data may be processed as part of the application process.

Modification de la durée du temps de travail

Les informations qui vous concernent recueillies sur ce formulaire font l’objet d’un traitement par l’administration concernée afin de mener à bien votre demande.

Ces informations sont conservées pour la durée nécessaire par l’administration à la réalisation de la finalité du traitement

Les destinataires de vos données sont les administrations compétentes dans le cadre du traitement de votre demande. Veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée par votre demande pour connaître les destinataires des données figurant sur ce formulaire. Conformément au règlement (UE) 2016/679 relatif à la protection des personnes physiques à l'égard du traitement des données à caractère personnel et à la libre circulation de ces données, vous bénéficiez d’un droit d’accès, de rectification et le cas échéant d’effacement des informations vous concernant. Vous disposez également du droit de retirer votre consentement à tout moment.

En outre et excepté le cas où le traitement de vos données présente un caractère obligatoire, vous pouvez, pour des motifs légitimes, vous y opposer.

Si vous souhaitez exercer ces droits et/ou obtenir communication de vos informations, veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée suivant les coordonnées indiquées dans le formulaire. Vous avez également la possibilité d’introduire une réclamation auprès de la Commission nationale pour la protection des données ayant son siège à 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux.

En poursuivant votre démarche, vous acceptez que vos données personnelles soient traitées dans le cadre de votre demande.

Modification de la durée du temps de travail

Ihre in diesem Formular erfassten personenbezogenen Informationen werden von der zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörde verarbeitet, um Ihren Antrag erfolgreich abzuschließen.

Diese Informationen werden von der Behörde für den zur Verarbeitung erforderlichen Zeitraum gespeichert.

Die Empfänger Ihrer Daten sind die im Rahmen Ihres Antrags zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörden. Um die Empfänger der in diesem Formular erfassten Daten zu erfahren, wenden Sie sich bitte an die für Ihren Antrag zuständige Behörde.

Gemäß der Verordnung (EU) 2016/679 zum Schutz natürlicher Personen bei der Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten und zum freien Datenverkehr haben Sie das Recht auf Zugang, Berichtigung und gegebenenfalls Löschung Ihrer personenbezogenen Informationen. Sie haben zudem das Recht, Ihre erteilte Einwilligung jederzeit zu widerrufen.

Weiterhin können Sie, außer in Fällen, in denen die Verarbeitung Ihrer Daten verpflichtend ist, Widerspruch einlegen, wenn dieser rechtmäßig begründet ist.

Wenn Sie diese Rechte ausüben und/oder Einsicht in Ihre Informationen nehmen möchten, können Sie sich unter den im Formular angegebenen Kontaktdaten an die zuständige Verwaltungsbehörde wenden. Sie haben außerdem die Möglichkeit, bei der Nationalen Kommission für den Datenschutz Beschwerde einzulegen (Commission nationale pour la protection des données, 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux).

Wenn Sie Ihren Vorgang fortsetzen, akzeptieren Sie damit, dass Ihre personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihres Antrags verarbeitet werden.

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