Background information

Faced with an increase in care and health activity during the COVID-19 crisis and in response to a request by the health sector, the government has agreed to increase the maximum working time per day and week. This measure is based in the following legislation: Grand-Ducal Regulation of 27 March 2020 introducing a derogation from Article L. 211-12 of the Labour Code.

Content of measure

The government increased the authorised working hours to a maximum of 12 hours and to a maximum of 60 hours per week. Any use of these increased working hours must be the subject of a request and must be approved by the staff delegation. In addition to health sector activities, the measure also concerns activities that are essential for the maintenance of the vital interests. The measure concerns the following activities: the health and care sector, including hospital activities and medical analysis laboratories, the production and distribution of energy and petroleum products, public transport, systems for the exchange, payment and settlement of instruments, cash transportation and cleaning services, essential activities linked to the functioning of the financial sector and the insurance and reinsurance sector, pharmacies, opticians, businesses that sell mainly animal feed, telecommunications service businesses, businesses that sell mainly hygiene, washing and sanitary equipment products, fuel sales services and gas stations, passenger transport activities, distributors and shops specialising in medical and health equipment, medical pedicure limited to medical and non-cosmetic care, press distribution businesses, financial and insurance institutions, postal services, dry-cleaning and laundry services, funeral services, troubleshooting, repair, remediation and maintenance activities required for safety reasons.

Use of measure

No number of workers affected by this measure is currently disclosed.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Workers in care facilities Workers in essential services	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

See role and form section.

Views and reactions

The company staff delegation must approve the request. However, trade unions such as the OGBL had difficulties to accept the increase of work hours.

Sources

• 18 March 2020: Increase in working time during the crisis period (www.cc.lu)
• 30 March 2020: Le «oui, mais» syndical à la semaine de 60 heures (www.wort.lu)
• 27 May 2020: Grand-ducal regulation of March 27