Overtime in the State Civil Service

Overtime is the hours you work at the request of your head of department, when the needs of the service so require, exceeding the time limits defined by your work cycle.

The work cycle is defined by department or function type. The work cycle can vary between the weekly and the annual cycle.

The work cycles that can be used by the services are defined by ministerial decree. These decrees lay down in particular the duration of the cycle, the daily and weekly limits and the conditions of rest and break.

Working hours are defined within the work cycle so that the annual working time is in line with the statutory working time (1 607 hours or the lower in force).

When the work cycle is several weeks long, the working time can vary from one week to another within the cycle. Example: 2-week cycle including 1 week at 32 hours then 1 week at 38 hours, or 35 hours on average per week.

Where the working cycle provides for a working time of more than 35 hours per week or 1 607 hours per year, the hours worked in excess of the statutory period shall be eligible for RTT. Example: a 39-hour week entitles you to 4 hours of RTT.

Hours worked beyond the statutory time limit, once the RTT days have been granted, if applicable, constitute overtime.

Overtime worked between 10 pm and 7 am shall be considered as overtime at night.

You cannot accomplish more than 25 extra hours per month.

This monthly quota may be exceeded by decision of your Head of Department if exceptional circumstances warrant and for a limited period. The staff representatives on the Social Management Committee shall be informed immediately.

For certain functions, a different monthly quota may be set, exceptionally, by ministerial decree.

The completion of overtime must not lead you to exceed the duration of actual work following:

• 48 hours in the same week,
• 44 hours on average over a period of 12 consecutive weeks.

The daily working time may not exceed 10 hours.

The maximum amplitude of the working day is set at 12 o'clock.

You must have, like any agent, daily rest of 11 hours minimum and a weekly rest of at least 35 consecutive hours and including in principle Sunday.

You must have a break of at least 20 minutes every 6 hours of work.

Overtime gives rise to a compensatory rest or the payment of a compensation.

The same overtime cannot give rise to both compensatory rest and compensation.

An additional hour may give rise to compensatory rest of at least equal duration. This period may be increased by ministerial decree when the overtime is carried out at night, on a Saturday or a day of rest, on a Sunday or a public holiday.

Compensatory rest should be taken immediately after the period of work to be compensated.

In the absence of compensation in the form of compensatory rest, an additional hour gives rise to the payment of a hourly allowance.