Belgian Labour Authority Rules ALDI Sunday Hours Illegal

Belgium’s Federal Public Service for Employment (FOD Werkgelegenheid) has ruled that supermarket chain ALDI may only allow employees to work until noon on Sundays, directly rejecting the discounter’s plan to open all its Belgian stores until 1 PM. The decision, reported by Het Laatste Nieuws, confirms that extending Sunday work beyond noon would violate the Labour Law of March 16, 1971.

Legal Framework

Under Article 14, §1 of the Belgian Labour Law, retail businesses that cannot rely on specific exemptions may only employ workers on Sundays from 8 AM until noon. The provisions are considered “of public order,” meaning employers and employees cannot contract out of them. As De Morgen reported, the FOD’s ruling gives unions full backing on the legal interpretation.

Two key exceptions exist: stores may open fully on up to six Sundays per calendar year, and outlets located in recognized seaside resorts, health resorts, and tourist centres are exempt from the restriction.

ALDI’s Plan and Union Response

ALDI had informed unions of its intention to open all Belgian stores on Sundays from 8.30 AM until 1 PM, with voluntary participation by employees who would receive financial compensation or extra leave. According to VRT NWS, the chain’s spokesperson Jason Sevestre confirmed the plans, though no start date was announced.

The Christian employees’ union ACV Puls has long criticized widespread non-compliance with Sunday work regulations. Koen Vanschoubroeck of ACV Puls told VRT NWS that the union wants to “close some other social dossiers first” before engaging in formal negotiations on Sunday openings. Wilson Wellens of the Synova union noted that while workers are “relieved that it’s on a voluntary basis,” Sunday openings are “difficult to stop.”

Enforcement and Penalties

The FOD Werkgelegenheid confirmed that labour inspectors act both on complaints and through independent checks. “If there are indications that employees are being employed on Sundays in violation of regulations, inspectors take action,” its press office stated, as reported by The Brussels Times. However, unions claim that penalties are disproportionate to the profits generated from Sunday trading, and that many supermarkets already operate on Sunday afternoons with impunity.

ACV Puls previously described the situation in the retail sector as “pure lawlessness” (“pure wetteloosheid”), accusing chains of systematically ignoring the rules.

Broader Context: The Supermarket War

The ruling comes amid an intense “supermarktoorlog” (supermarket war) in Belgium, where discounters like ALDI and Lidl compete aggressively with traditional chains Delhaize and Carrefour. In April 2026, the Belgian federal government approved significant liberalization of shop opening hours, allowing stores to remain open until 21:00 daily and abolishing the mandatory weekly closing day. However, as The Brussels Times reported, Sunday afternoon restrictions for supermarkets were explicitly maintained.

Lidl is also pursuing Sunday openings, initially targeting 150 of its approximately 300 Belgian stores. The same legal restrictions apply to all supermarket chains.

Analysis and Implications

The ruling creates a clear legal barrier to ALDI’s Sunday expansion plans and validates union complaints about widespread non-compliance. For ACV Puls, the FOD’s statement provides significant leverage ahead of the next scheduled union-ALDI meeting on 29 June 2026.

However, the practical question of enforcement remains. Unions have long argued that many supermarkets already violate Sunday work rules with minimal consequences, and that fines are too small relative to the profits generated from Sunday trading. The FOD’s statement that inspectors will act on violations represents a firm position, but whether this translates into meaningful enforcement across the sector remains to be seen.

ALDI could potentially challenge the ruling in court, lobby for legislative change, or adjust its proposed hours to comply with the noon limit. Some individual store locations in recognized tourist areas may qualify for exemptions, though this would apply only to a minority of outlets.

What’s Next

The next scheduled union-ALDI meeting on the Sunday opening issue is set for 29 June 2026. The outcome will be closely watched by the entire retail sector, as Lidl and other chains pursue similar Sunday expansion plans. The broader question of whether the Belgian government will further liberalize Sunday trading rules — having already shown willingness to relax weekday hours — remains an open political question that will shape the future of retail in Belgium.