The Flemish government plans to remove two additional days off for its employees starting in 2027 as part of a broader effort to reduce government spending.
The two days affected are November 2 and November 15. Both are currently included as additional holidays for Flemish government employees under the current civil service rules.
Two fewer days off for government employees
November 2, All Souls’ Day, and November 15, King’s Day, are currently additional days off for employees of the Flemish government.
However, these are not among Belgium’s 10 official legal public holidays. Those national holidays will remain unchanged.
This means the planned change would only affect employees covered by the Flemish government’s civil service rules. Private-sector employees across Belgium would not lose these two days because of the measure.
Part of a broader spending plan
The proposed change is part of a larger plan by the Flemish government to reduce spending over the coming years and make government administration more efficient.
Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and Budget Minister Ben Weyts have presented plans to parliament aimed at reducing the cost of running the government.
According to figures presented by the government, around 155 million euro in savings will be needed in 2027.
The plan includes measures involving artificial intelligence, simpler administrative procedures and changes to personnel policies.
What would change for Flemish government employees?
If the measure takes effect, Flemish government employees would have two fewer additional days off starting in 2027.
The change would affect their employment conditions, but it would not change Belgium’s legal public holidays.
Under the current rules, Flemish government employees receive additional time off on November 2, November 15 and December 26. They also receive time off during the period between Christmas and New Year.
The exact details of the reform are still being worked out. This includes rules for employees who are required to work on holidays and situations in which a holiday falls on a weekend.
The current civil service rules include compensation arrangements for some of these situations.
More changes could affect government employees
The planned removal of two holidays is only one part of the Flemish government’s broader cost-cutting strategy.
Other measures involving staff, digitalization and simpler administrative procedures are also expected to contribute to the savings target.
It is not yet fully clear whether the spending cuts will eventually lead to a reduction in the number of government employees.
For now, however, removing the two additional holidays would be one of the most visible changes to the working conditions of Flemish government employees.
