In the Netherlands, there are rules that govern your working hours so that you can work in a safe and healthy way.
You can work up to 12 hours a day and up to 60 hours a week, but you must not work this many hours every week. In any period of 16 weeks, you must not work an average of more than 48 hours a week.
You have a right to breaks during your work. If you work more than 5.5 hours a day, you have a right to at least a 30-minute break. You also have a right to rest between working days and during weekends so that you can properly relax. Read more about breaks during work.
If you work at night, special rules apply. You can do a maximum of five night shifts in the space of two weeks. Most night shifts last 10 hours, but in some cases, such as in an emergency, they might last 12 hours. You cannot work more than 22 night shifts in a year.
In the Netherlands, you have a right to holiday days. If you work full-time, you get at least four weeks' holiday a year. If you work part-time you get fewer holiday days. Specifically, you get four times the number of hours you work each week. You usually still get your normal wages while you are on holiday.
In some cases you are allowed to build up more holiday days under your CAO or contract of employment. If you want to not take a holiday, you will only be allowed to do this if you have a good reason. Rest is essential for your health.
In some cases, stricter rules apply for working times and rest periods, for example if you work night shifts or are pregnant. You can also sometimes get additional breaks if it is very cold or hot where you work. Ask your boss or health and safety officer about this.
Your CAO might say that you can work more than eight hours in a row. Check your contract and see which CAO applies to you. Under the Working Conditions Act, you cannot work for more than 12 hours without a rest.
If you frequently have to work for too long or do not get enough rest, talk to your boss or employment agency about your working hours first. If nothing changes, you can report this matter to the Netherlands Labour Authority. You can do this anonymously and in your own language on the website of the Netherlands Labour Authority.
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