Sectoral agreement 2026-2027 for the Joint Industrial Committee 201
In Belgium, social dialogue takes place at three levels: interprofessional/federal, sectoral, and company level. In recent months, the wage norm as well as various employment-related measures have been adopted at the federal and interprofessional levels, thereby serving as a basis for sectoral negotiations.
These negotiations were conducted within Joint Industrial Committee 201, resulting in a sectoral memorandum of understanding for the years 2026-2027 (valid from 1 June 2026 to 31 December 2027). Below, we provide an overview of the most important decisions applicable to your sector for the year and a half.
1. Mobility
Bicycle allowance
As from 1 June 2026, the amount of the bicycle allowance will increase to 0.29 EUR per kilometer travelled.
2. Individual right to free weekends
Employees working in stores with more than five members of staff will be able to request up to eight weekends off per calendar year, in addition to their main annual leave. If an employee starts working during the calendar year, the number of free weekends will be calculated pro rata based on the period of employment that year.
When an employee takes a free weekend, no additional regular inactivity day may be taken during that same week. The regular inactivity day that would normally fall on a weekday (for example, Tuesday) will be shifted to the weekend, ensuring the employee has the entire weekend off. The employee does, however, retain the right to take another type of leave, such as statutory vacation, a compensatory rest day, or leave of absence.
The scheduling of a free weekend will be determined in mutual agreement with the supervisor.
Taking a free weekend is not permitted in the following cases:
- During the months of July, August, and December;
- For weekends connected to public holidays: both weekends following a public holiday on Friday and weekends preceding a public holiday on Monday;
- For flexi-job employees and students.
3. Time credit and end-of-career
The existing collective labour agreements on time credit and end-of-career schemes are extended until 30 June 2029.
4. Miscellaneous
Sectoral Mediation Committee
The social partners plan to establish a Sectoral Mediation Committee as of 1 January 2027 for companies with fewer than 20 employees. Employees will be able to turn to this committee for conflict mediation. The committee will be financed through a new employer contribution equal to 0.05%, which will be automatically included in the payroll calculations from 1 January 2027 onward.
Action Plan Against Stress and Burnout
The social partners will start a collaboration with the organisation PULSO. Because of this collaboration, employees will have the opportunity to hold confidential consultations with psychologists of PULSO. The Social Fund of Joint Committee 201 would cover the start-up costs and half of the case-related costs for employers. Making use of PULSO’s services would remain entirely voluntary.
