Employment relationship / social security: Saturday remains a working day!

As of 1 January 2023, Saturday, in principle, will no longer be considered a working day under the provisions of the new Civil Code.

However, a law of 26 December 2022 neutralises these provisions in labour law, social security law and social assistance.

A brief overview of the situation

Situation until 31 December 2022

Saturday is considered a working day:

• in labour law (e.g. in the calculation of the deadline for giving notice of termination by registered mail);
• in the various branches of social security and social assistance.

Situation as of 1 January 2023

Under the provisions of the new Civil Code (book 1, art. 1.7), Saturday is no longer considered a working day.

Given the significant impact of this change if applied in labour law and in the various branches of social security and social assistance, the legislator intervened to guarantee legal certainty.

In practical terms, the law of 26 December 2022 provides that these provisions of the new Civil Code do not apply to these matters.

Consequently, Saturday remains a working day in the regulation:

• of the employment relationship (labour law);
• of social security and social assistance.

Source: law of 26 December 2022 neutralising article 1.7 of book 1 of the Civil Code with regard to labour law and social security and social assistance, Belgian Official Gazette of 30 December 2022.