Animation: what is the educational commitment contract?

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The educational employment contract (EWC) is intended for persons who occasionally perform animation and supervision functions in collective reception centers for minors. For example, in a holiday center or camp. This is a particular contract: it deviates from the rules of labor law, in particular on working time, rest and remuneration. We present you the information to know.

The EWC is a contract for persons who have occasional activity in collective reception centers for minors for the following functions:

  • Facilitator
  • Educator
  • Director.

He has worked with town halls or associations that organize holiday camps, holiday centers or leisure centers for minors.

Some labor law rules do not apply to the educational employment contract, in particular in the following areas:

  • Working time
  • Break time
  • Compensation.

Warning  

All contracts signed by the same employee must not exceed 80 days in 12 consecutive months.

The EWC shall specify the following:

  • Identity and domicile of the employee
  • Identity and address of the organizer
  • Amount of remuneration (benefits in kind included)
  • Number of days worked
  • Number of scheduled rest days
  • Contract duration and conditions for early termination.

The number of hours worked per week must not exceed 48 hours over a period of 6 consecutive months.

The employee shall be entitled to a minimum rest period of 24 consecutive hours per 7-day period.

The employee also benefits each day from a rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period.

Daily rest may, however, be reduced or eliminated in some cases.

The rules vary depending on whether the employee is accommodated on site (permanent presence at the place of reception) or at home.

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Employee accommodated on site

When the facilitators must be present at all times at the reception site, the daily rest period may be abolished.

Daily rest is then replaced by compensatory rest equivalent to 11 hours per day.

It can be taken in a divided manner as follows:

  • A resting part
  • The other part at the end of the stay.

For a 3-day stay, it is possible to give 33 hours of rest at the end of the stay (3 times 11 hours).

FYI  

From a stay of 4 days, part of the rest must be taken during the duration of the stay. This rest period must be at least 4 consecutive hours.

Employee housed at home

Daily rest may be reduced by up to 8 hours when, for example, the employee's home is close to the place of stay and his presence is only mandatory when young people get up and go to bed.

In this case, the employee benefits from compensatory rest equal to the fraction of the daily rest that he was unable to benefit from, for example 3 hours of compensatory rest for a rest of 8 hours (11 hours minus 8 hours).

This rest can be taken at the end of the stay for stays of less than 4 days, and in a divided manner for stays of more than 4 days.

FYI  

Special rules (e.g. night work, rest periods) apply when the employee is a minor.

Remuneration per day of the employee shall not be less than €51.69 (gross).

If the functions involve a continuous presence with the young people, the food and accommodation are entirely the responsibility of the organizer.

The EWC may be terminated before the end of the contract by agreement between the employee and the organizer of the stay.

It may also be terminated at the initiative of the organizer of the stay in the following cases:

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