90 Years of Paid Leave in Belgium: A Social Conquest

Belgium is marking 90 years since the institution of paid leave — a landmark social achievement that transformed workers’ rights, reshaped the relationship between labor and leisure, and gave rise to the mass tourism industry. On July 8, 1936, following a wave of strikes that paralyzed the country, the Belgian Chamber voted unanimously to establish six days of paid leave per year for workers.

Today, four weeks of paid leave seem self-evident for most Belgian employees. Yet this right, as RTBF notes, “is the fruit of a long social conquest” — one born from tragedy, mass mobilization, and political compromise.

The Spark That Ignited a Movement

The path to paid leave began with violence. On May 25, 1936, two socialist activists — Albert Pot and Theo Grijp — were assassinated by fascist militants in Antwerp. The killings galvanized the labor movement. On June 2, dockworkers in Antwerp walked off the job, and within days they were joined by metalworkers and miners from Liège.

By mid-June, between 500,000 and 600,000 workers had downed tools, paralyzing the country. The gendarmerie fired on strikers at the Maison du Peuple in Quarengnon on June 16. As FGTB Wallonne recounts, workers demanded a minimum wage, the 40-hour week, and six days of paid annual leave.

Prime Minister Paul Van Zeeland convened a National Labor Conference, and the resulting compromise was historic. On July 8-9, 1936, the Chamber voted unanimously to establish six days of paid leave after one year of work. France had passed its own paid leave law just 18 days earlier under the Popular Front government.

From Six Days to Four Weeks

The initial six-day entitlement grew steadily over the decades. The introduction of double holiday pay (pécule de vacances) in 1947-1948 was a crucial turning point — having time off was not enough; workers needed the means to travel. As RTBF reports, this supplementary payment enabled working-class families to finally afford vacations, particularly to the Belgian coast at Ostend or to the Ardennes.

Paid leave was extended to two weeks in 1952, three weeks in 1966, and reached the current level of four weeks (20 days in a five-day work week) in 1975.

A Revolution in Society and Economy

The introduction of paid leave did more than change labor law — it transformed Belgian society. Before 1936, the main form of rest for workers was often the “lundi chômé” (Monday off), a consequence of fatigue rather than a recognized right. Paid leave shifted rest from a suffered situation to a recognized entitlement.

This new freedom unsettled some elites, who worried about what workers would do with their time. The state, unions, and organizations responded by developing “social tourism” — vacation centers at the sea and mountains designed to guide leisure time while promoting health, culture, and social cohesion.

Economically, paid leave became a powerful driver. The tourism, hospitality, and transportation industries boomed. Belgian entrepreneur Gérard Blitz, a former water-polo player, founded Club Méditerranée, which grew into a global symbol of vacation culture. As RTBF noted on the 80th anniversary, historian Pierre Tilly described paid leave as “a social revolution” — one that gave “a little less space for work and a little more for leisure.”

Employers also found the measure acceptable: it represented only about a 2% reduction in annual output while allowing for machine maintenance and stock management during closure periods.

Contemporary Relevance and Future Challenges

Ninety years on, paid leave remains one of the most structuring social conquests of the 20th century. The tourism industry it spawned now supports millions of jobs globally. Yet new battles for free time are emerging: the right to disconnect, the four-day work week, caregiver leave, and mental health leave are all subjects of contemporary debate.

According to research cited by Solidaris, 78% of French-speaking Belgians believe work organization needs to be fundamentally rethought to better protect physical and mental health. The 90th anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect not only on how far workers’ rights have come, but on what remains to be achieved.

As the 1936 strike slogan put it: “Your first name is Walloon or Flemish. Your last name is worker.” The unity that won paid leave 90 years ago stands as a reminder that social progress, however hard-won, is never permanent — and always worth defending.