Employee's daily rest
Verified 10 February 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Every employee must have a daily rest period between 2 working days. The legal period of rest shall be at least 11 consecutive hours. However, derogations from this period may be laid down by convention or agreement. Employees under the age of 18 are entitled to a longer rest period.
Major employee
Every employee has a minimum daily rest period between 2 working days.
Daily rest is at least 11 hours consecutive between 2 working days.
Warning
no minimum legal term is imposed on senior managers.
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Specific activities
Some activities do not apply the 11-hour daily rest period.
This is the case for the following activities:
- Activities characterized by distance between home and workplace or between different places of work of the employee
- Custody and supervision and permanence characterized by the protection of property and persons
- Activities that require continuity of service or production
- Handling or operation involved in the provision of transport services
- Activities carried out in periods of work split up over the day
The minimum period of rest shall then be fixed by agreement or company or establishment agreement.
However, the working time may not exceed 9 consecutive hours.
Non-application of the statutory working time is possible provided that the employee is granted at least an equivalent period of rest.
Increased activity
In the event of increased activity, a company agreement or agreement may provide for a reduction in the daily rest period.
However, the daily rest period shall not be less than 9 consecutive hours.
In the absence of an agreement or agreement, the employer may waive the statutory daily rest period after authorization by the labor inspector.
Exemption from the legal duration is possible provided that the employee is granted at least an equivalent period of rest.
Urgent work
The employer may waive the daily rest period where the following urgent work must be carried out without delay:
- Rescue measures
- Prevention of imminent accidents
- Repair of accidents to equipment, installations or buildings
The employer remains obliged to inform the labor inspector.
Exemption from the legal duration is possible provided that the employee is granted at least an equivalent period of rest.
Minor employee
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Employee aged 16 to 18
The minimum daily rest period shall not be less than 12 consecutive hours.
Please note
it is forbidden to employ a young person aged between 16 and 18 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.. However, derogations exist for certain sectors of activity or in emergency situations.
Employee under 16 years
The minimum daily rest period shall not be less than 14 consecutive hours.
Please note
it is forbidden to employ a young person under the age of 16 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.. However, derogations exist for certain sectors of activity or in emergency situations.
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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.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
Legal duration (public policy)
Derogation from the legal duration (scope of collective bargaining)
Derogation from the legal duration (supplementary provisions)
Employee under 18 years
Derogation from the legal period (public policy)
Derogation from the legal duration (scope of collective bargaining)
Derogation from the legal duration (supplementary provisions)