Collective holiday 2025 starts at the end of July
Mark Potterton, Unsplash
Every summer, Luxembourg's construction companies observe a mandatory collective holiday enshrined in collective labour agreements. In 2025, it will take place from 25 July to 17 August for companies in the bâtiment et génie civil (building and civil engineering) sector. For plumbing, heating and air-conditioning firms, the holiday will start a little later, from 4 to 24 August.
There are certain exceptions: in the case of repairs in schools, technical work in factories during a production stoppage or repairing urgent damage (e.g. on utility networks), companies can apply for authorisation.
Such requests are considered by a special ad hoc commission comprising representatives of trade unions, employers and the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM). Only it is authorised to issue official authorisations. The ITM ensures the work of the commission and formalises all decisions.
As of 22 July 2025, 195 applications for exemptions have been received:
- 157 of these were filed by companies in the construction sector;
- the commission approved 145 of them and rejected 12;
- 5 applications came from plumbing and climate control companies, but the commission is not authorised to consider such cases - in their case only internal arrangements with workers for urgent repairs are allowed;
- A further 33 applications came from companies not covered by collective leave at all (e.g. firms in steel construction, interior decoration, modular construction, etc.).
According to the approved applications, around 1,050 workers in the construction industry are covered under the 2025 collective holiday. ITM, police and customs inspections are carried out throughout the holiday period. If companies are found to be working illegally without proper authorisation, construction will be stopped immediately.
