Brussels, 25 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium will introduce expanded real-time workplace attendance registration from 1 April 2027, affecting construction and other work on immovable property at qualifying sites. The Belgium working-time registration changes will require covered workers to register when they start and finish work through the country’s Check In and Out at Work system.
New Rules Apply to Major Construction Worksites
The change stems from Belgium’s Programme Law of 30 May 2026, which extends mandatory IN and OUT attendance registration to work on immovable property, excluding cleaning activities, and to deliveries of ready-mixed concrete.
The obligation applies at workplaces where the total value of the work is €500,000 or more, excluding VAT. The National Social Security Office’s existing Check In and Out at Work service will handle the registrations.
Employees, self-employed people, temporary workers and trainees are among those covered by the registration framework. Workers must register themselves at the workplace in real time rather than relying on an employer to record their attendance beforehand.
Attendance Must Be Registered in Real Time
The system records two principal events: an “in” registration when work starts and an “out” registration when the activity ends.
Belgian authorities state: “Employees, self-employed people, temporary workers and trainees self-register their presence at the workplace in real time.”
Responsibility does not fall solely on individual workers. Official guidance says responsibility for registration rests both with the organisation assigning someone to work and the person carrying out the work. Employers must therefore provide appropriate means for workers to comply.
April Start Gives Businesses Time to Prepare
The expanded Belgium working-time registration requirement will not take effect until April 2027, giving construction businesses, contractors and other affected organisations several months to adapt their procedures and technology.
Explaining the implementation timetable, the Belgian authorities said the delay was intended “to ensure the application is fully functional and to give you sufficient time to prepare.”
From 1 April, businesses will no longer be able to use the existing Checkinatwork service to register attendance for the affected work on immovable property. Those registrations will move to Check In and Out at Work.
Belgium Builds on Existing Attendance System
Belgium already uses Check In and Out at Work for certain cleaning activities. Mandatory registration for covered cleaning work has applied since 1 September 2024, including recording the beginning and end of activities and rest breaks.
The 2027 measure therefore expands an existing digital compliance framework rather than establishing a completely new registration platform.
The system supports smartphone registration and secure digital identification, while employers can also use web-service integrations linked to badge, tracking or other workplace systems.
Construction Businesses Face New Compliance Duties
The changes will be particularly relevant to contractors, subcontractors and companies managing larger Belgian construction projects. Businesses will need to determine whether their sites meet the €500,000 threshold, provide appropriate registration methods and ensure workers understand their obligations.
The real-time records will also give social-security authorities more detailed attendance information for covered workplaces.
What Happens Next?
The expanded Belgium working-time registration rules are confirmed to begin on 1 April 2027. Belgian authorities say further practical information will be published on the official Check In and Out at Work portal before implementation.
