The Brussels government decided on Thursday to make May 8, a public holiday for the Brussels-Capital Region, a day off. This green light follows the decision of the federal government to authorize the federated states to make their own holidays days off. Last Friday, the Brussels Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution to make May 8 a day of legal and paid annual leave as soon as federal law allows it.
The federal coalition agreement stipulates that the federated states have the possibility of transforming their public holiday into a day off. The Federal Minister for the Economy and Labor Pierre-Yves Dermagne sounded out the regions on their intentions and prepared a draft royal decree to grant an additional public holiday corresponding to the respective public holidays of the Regions.
In order to ensure equal treatment of all workers, both private and public, the regional legislation on the civil service must be amended as soon as the Royal Decree has been amended accordingly.
