Is holiday pay mandatory?

Q: Is holiday pay mandatory?

Yes. Holiday pay is mandatory for every employee: a white-collar employee gets it from the employer; for a blue-collar worker, the employer pays contributions and the RJV or a holiday fund pays it out. The annual holiday acts and their implementing decree govern holiday pay. A white-collar employee gets their normal pay from the employer during the holiday, plus double holiday pay of 92% of gross monthly pay after a full year (Article 38 of the decree). A blue-collar worker gets 15.38% of their gross pay of the previous year from the National Annual Holiday Office (RJV) or their holiday fund, calculated on 108% of that pay.

Yes. Holiday pay is mandatory for every employee: a white-collar employee gets it from the employer; for a blue-collar worker, the employer pays contributions and the RJV or a holiday fund pays it out.

Last checked on 18 October 2026Read the official text

Is holiday pay mandatory? A Business Centrum case manager at work in the Ghent office

Why holiday pay is mandatory

The annual holiday acts and their implementing decree govern holiday pay. A white-collar employee gets their normal pay from the employer during the holiday, plus double holiday pay of 92% of gross monthly pay after a full year (Article 38 of the decree). A blue-collar worker gets 15.38% of their gross pay of the previous year from the National Annual Holiday Office (RJV) or their holiday fund, calculated on 108% of that pay.

Exceptions

For flexi-jobs, holiday pay follows its own scheme, flexi holiday pay. Anyone with another statutory holiday scheme, such as a statutory civil servant, does not fall under these acts.

What is the risk?

Not paying holiday pay that is due, not paying it in full or not paying it on time is a level 3 offence under Article 162 of the Social Criminal Code: an administrative fine of € 1,000 to € 10,000, per employee concerned. Not granting the holiday itself is a separate offence (Article 145).

What to do

Pay a white-collar employee double holiday pay with their main holiday, and leaving holiday pay when they leave the company. For blue-collar workers, declare pay correctly in the DmfA; the RJV or the holiday fund calculates and pays the holiday pay.

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Sources

Every amount and deadline on this page was checked against these official sources, last consulted on 18 October 2026.

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