Cutting one public holiday could help finalize the federal budget and generate millions of euros for the state, according to proposals under discussion on November 14.
Negotiations over the federal budget stalled on November 14 as formation talks continued. Prime Minister-designate Bart De Wever weighed several austerity options to balance federal accounts, including removing a legal holiday.
The proposal involves two specific approaches. In the public sector, the plan would eliminate a holiday for civil servants. In the private sector, workers typically recover a holiday if it falls on a weekend, but the measure would remove that compensation entirely, RTL Info reported.
Abolishing a holiday could bring about 300 million euros into the Belgian state treasury, according to calculations shared by ING economist Philippe Ledent. Ledent estimated that the move could generate 600 million euros in extra economic activity, provided it applies across the entire workforce.
Belgium currently observes 10 legal holidays per year, placing the country among the nations with the fewest statutory rest days in Europe. Public reaction to the potential reduction remains divided.
“Si on peut participer à un équilibre budgétaire pour les années à venir, pourquoi pas. Ça ne change pas grand-chose dans l’année, honnêtement,” a resident of Brussels told RTL Info.
“Je pense que les jours fériés sont là pour une raison, que c’est important de garder,” another resident told RTL Info in contrast.
Beyond direct tax revenue, proponents argue the measure would increase labor output. “Nous gagnons un peu en compétitivité,” Ledent told RTL Info, explaining that more hours worked at the same annual pay rate reduce the hourly cost of labor.
Certain sectors that rely heavily on holiday crowds, such as tourism and the hospitality industry, would likely face losses under the plan. Meanwhile, regional authorities in Brussels and Flanders have already announced plans to eliminate two holidays for their own regional civil servants.
Further budget discussions remain scheduled as the formation teams work toward an agreement before reporting back to the king.
