Collective leave in Luxembourg. What is it and who is entitled to it
Collective leave is an important part of the collective agreement. Collective leave has a clear timetable. It is compulsory. In other words, even if the rest days are a bit forced, it is not possible to ignore them. However, there are situations where it can be refused.
Employees of Luxembourg and foreign companies that carry out construction and engineering work, as well as installing plumbing, heating and air conditioning, will soon go on collective leave in Luxembourg.
Construction workers
The collective summer leave for construction workers in Luxembourg starts on the last Friday in July. It lasts 15 working days. It also always includes an official public holiday on the 15th of August (Assumption Day). This year, the collective summer holiday period will run from the 28th of July up to and including the 20th of August.
The winter collective holiday for construction workers is slightly shorter: only 10 working days, with the mandatory inclusion of 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Winter holidays run from 23 December to 10 January this year.
The company has the option of cancelling the compulsory leave if it is planned:
- Repairs to schools;
- Repairs in factories with production stoppages;
- Urgent work agreed upon by an official committee.
It's important to understand that a request to cancel compulsory leave can be made up to 2 months in advance. If it is done later, the committee may simply refuse to consider the request. No amount of urgency can be used as an argument. Consequently, there may be serious legal problems in recalling employees from leave.
Masters in plumbing, heating and air conditioning
These professionals have different timetables for their summer holidays. In this case, the collective leave begins on the first Monday in August. Work is postponed for 15 working days in the same way as it is for workers in the construction industry. This year, the holiday period runs from the 7th to the 27th of August.
Plumbers and heating engineers are also allowed to go to work during their holidays. This is in the case of repair work that has to be started and that cannot be put off. For example, you would not be able to call a plumber to replace a bath, but you would be able to call a plumber to fix a leak in the heating system.
The main difference here is that workers are called in from holiday in consultation with official representatives and the workers themselves. In other words, there is no committee for the assessment and approval of requests. All the issues are dealt with directly and, if necessary, in consultation with the workers' delegation.
