Credit: Jazmin Campbell, Chronicle.lu
On Wednesday 26 November 2025, Luxembourg's Minister of Labour, Georges Mischo, and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, presented a draft law amending the Labour Code regarding labour relations in the agriculture, viticulture and horticulture sectors.
According to their respective ministries, the draft law also contributes to fulfilling the commitments outlined in the government coalition agreement.
The ministries recalled that several practical challenges had been raised during the "Wäibaudësch" meeting on 11 July 2024, which brought together representatives of the agriculture, viticulture and horticulture sectors.
Minister Mischo explained: "During several discussions between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, the Ministry of Health and Social Security, the Ministry of Labour and the Wine Institute, possible solutions were identified to address these practical difficulties. As a result, several amendments to the provisions of the Labour Code were proposed, notably the need to create a legal framework for temporary contracts."
The draft law introduces a definition of temporary contracts into the Labour Code, while clarifying their legal status and adding several simplifications related to their use.
For temporary contracts lasting no more than one month, the draft law proposes to waive the requirement to issue a salary statement (payslip) at the end of each month and a final statement within five days of the termination of employment.
The legislative amendment adopted in this case stipulates that the employer must issue a payslip and pay the salary no later than the day after the employee's final working day. This ensures that the employee receives all their wages and statements promptly, while simplifying the administrative process for the employer (who only needs to perform one calculation).
In addition, the draft law proposes a simplified procedure for the pre-employment screening of temporary workers for positions not considered high-risk.
Employers can thus waive the requirement to subject such employees to a pre-employment medical examination conducted by an occupational physician in Luxembourg and opt for a simplified procedure.
Under this new procedure, employees who present a certificate of fitness issued by an occupational physician from the Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health and Social Security would be exempt from the standard pre-employment medical examination in Luxembourg. The occupational physician issues this certificate based on medical information provided via a form completed by a physician authorised to practise in the European Union.
Minister Hansen stated: "In my discussions with representatives of the sector, one message keeps recurring: too much red tape, too much bureaucracy. Our winegrowers, as well as our fruit and vegetable producers, want above all to focus on their work, in the field, in their vineyards, orchards or fields. The changes made will allow for concrete administrative simplification. This is a commitment I have always championed, and one that we are now implementing."
The draft law also introduces changes for areas within agricultural, wine-growing or horticultural operations intended for the tasting or consumption of agricultural and regional products ("Wäistuff"). These areas may benefit from the working hours regulations applicable to the hotel and restaurant sector.
Moreover, the draft law extends exemptions to the ban on Sunday work to certain horticultural businesses. The ministries stressed that this amendment applies exclusively to the primary activity of horticultural businesses that produce fruits and vegetables.
