Time registration 2027: what is already in the law?
For construction sites it is already in the law. With CIAO you register every arrival and every departure, with the time. We have not yet found a general obligation to register the working time of all employees in the Belgian Official Gazette.
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What is already in the law?
For works on immovable property: the registration of attendance at every arrival and every departure. That is laid down in the programme law of 30 May 2026 (title 6, chapter 1, art. 124 to 131). The registered data then also include the time of every arrival and every departure, and the number of the declaration of works (article 124).
From when?
The NSSO (RSZ/ONSS) states that the obligation starts on 1 April 2027 (NSSO, Check in and out at work).
The programme law itself says that these articles enter into force on a date set by the King, and at the latest on 1 January 2027 (articles 129 and 131). We found no published text that reconciles the two dates. Follow the NSSO for the practical start, and check this page again for the final date.
Who does it apply to?
To works on immovable property (excluding cleaning) and the delivery of ready-mixed concrete, at places where the total amount is equal to or higher than 500,000 euros (excluding VAT) (NSSO, Check in and out at work). From the start you can no longer register attendance for works on immovable property in Checkinatwork.
Who falls under the obligation is explained on from which amount and who has to register.
What changes in practice?
- Registration happens on arrival and on departure, no longer once a day (article 127).
- Remote registration disappears: the law removes that option (article 127).
- Every contractor and subcontractor makes sure that everyone who enters the construction site on its behalf can register before entering or leaving (article 126).
Will there be a general obligation to register working time?
That is not yet certain. On 21 October 2026 we found no law or royal decree in the Belgian Official Gazette that obliges all employers to register the working time of their employees. Without a published legal text we name no date and no rules. As soon as there is a text, we will add it to this page with the source.
Frequently asked questions
Is checking in and out on the site the same as time registration?
Not quite. CIAO registers who arrives at and leaves the site, with the time, and sends that to the NSSO. It does not replace time registration for payroll or planning. Many tools do both: see our comparison of Checkinatwork apps and of time tracking apps.
Do I already have to choose a CIAO-ready app?
That is up to you. If you want to know whether your site is covered, take the CIAO check.