Civil servants consequently have the option to collect enough hours to take an additional day off by working overtime.
This will soon be the case for the private sector as well, as the draft bill was approved by the parliamentary commission on Thursday.
The draft bill rapporteur, LSAP MP Yves Cruchten, expressed his satisfaction at how quickly the parliamentary commission worked on the draft bill. He explained that the topic has been one that has figured in political discourse for decades and is finally coming to fruition.
Once the law enters into effect, all employees with a collective agreement in the private sector can begin to register any additional working hours and claim these hours back as time off once enough have been accumulated.
Cruchten highlighted that there are a number of reasons for using timebanking, one of those being the possibility of spending more time with one's family or at home. As Cruchten said, the point is not for employees to just be able to go on longer holidays, but instead can take the time to be at home when required.
The opposition clearly supported Cruchten's point of view, as the report was unanimously passed by the parliamentary commission. CSV MP Ali Kaes looked back at the civil service model as corrective justice. Kaes praised the draft bill, highlighting the benefits of providing the opportunity to timebank in a number of sectors. Globally, Kaes called the draft bill a positive piece of legislation.
In next week's session, the rapporteur will go through the report again in order to ensure that the bill is passed before the summer and can enter effect as soon as possible. The bill ensures a maximum of 1,800 hours per year that can be collected, which is the same amount that civil servants have. Employees will also not be forced to fill their timebank account if they do not want to.
