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Part-time employee: what is the minimum working time?

Verified 24 June 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

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General case

Since 1 July 2014

The employee who has signed his part-time employment contract (DTA: titleContent or CSD: titleContent) must comply with a minimum working timeat least 24 hours per week.

Before 1 July 2014

The employee who signed his part-time employment contract before 1er July 2014 (DTA: titleContent or CSD: titleContent) does not have to respect a minimum working time.

Derogation requested by the employee

Personal Constraints

At the employee's request, a minimum period shorter than the period applicable in the company may be fixed.

The employee's request must be in writing and substantiated, i.e. it must state his personal constraints (health or family reasons, in particular).

A sample letter is available:

Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work

Cumulation of activities

At the request of the employee, a minimum period shorter than the period applicable in the company may be fixed to enable him to carry out more than one activity.

The employee can thus attain an overall duration of activity corresponding to a full time or at least equal to the minimum duration of work.

A sample letter is available:

Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work

Student under 26

An employee shall be entitled, if he so requests, to a minimum period shorter than the period applicable in the company in order to enable him to pursue his studies.

The employee must then make the request to his employer.

The employer must accept the employee's request.

A sample letter is available:

Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work

Fixed-term employment contract

CDD of up to 7 days

The employee does not have to respect a minimum working time.

Replacement of absent employee

In the case of the signing of a temporary contract or contract justified by the replacement of an employee, the employee does not have to respect a minimum working time.

Employee of an individual employer

The employee employed directly by an individual does not have to respect a minimum working time.

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  • For further information

    Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.

    Cost: free service

    Attention: the service does not respond questions relating to unemployment compensation and representations to Pôle emploi, civil servants or public service contractors, the amount or payment of social, wage or employer contributions.

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