Vacation bonuses in the construction industry

Understanding vacation pay — its terms, calculation methods, and payment methods — is essential to complying with legislation and ensuring employee satisfaction. This article details the rules and obligations of construction companies.

What is vacation pay?

The vacation bonus is paid by the employer to the employees when they take time off. It is an additional salary. Although it is not mandatory in many sectors, vacation pay is provided for by certain collective agreements, especially in the construction and public works sector.

What are the conditions for obtaining vacation bonuses?

Employees in the construction sector can benefit from a vacation bonus equivalent to 30% of their paid vacation pay. The provision is included in all collective agreements:

• CCN for construction workers,
• CCN for public works workers,
• CCN for employees, technicians and building control agents,
• CCN for employees, technicians and public works supervisors,
• CCN for building managers,
• CCN for public works managers.

Conditions for eligibility for the vacation bonus

To benefit from the vacation bonus in the building and public works sector, workers, ETAM and managers must respect certain conditions based on the number of hours worked and the duration of their presence within businesses. Here are the specific criteria according to the professional categories:

For construction workers

Workers must have accumulated at least 1,675 hours of work between 1 April and 31 March of the following year, within one or more construction companies.

For public works workers

They must have realized at least 1,200 hours of work during the same reference period in the construction sector.

For ETAMs and building managers

A minimum presence of six months is required within one or more companies affiliated to a paid construction leave fund.

How do I calculate vacation premiums?

The amount of the vacation bonus for construction professionals is fixed at 30%. % of vacation pay. The latter is based on the following principle: for each month of work carried out during the reference period, Two working days of leave are earned. That's 24 days in a full year. Additional days may be added depending on seniority and splitting.

To determine paid vacation pay, two methods can be used, the one most favorable to the employee is selected :

1. General regime: divide the gross earnings for the reference period by 10.

Example: suppose an employee who earned €20,000 from April 1 to March 31, the period in which they acquired CP (1,820 hours worked), with an hourly rate of €11.50 and entitled to 30 working days of paid leave. With this method, his paid vacation allowance would then be €2,000, or €66.67 per day of vacation.

2. Construction regime: multiply the hourly rate for the last month worked by the number of hours worked, divide the result by 10.

Using the same example, according to the BTP regime, the calculation would be 11.50 x 1 820/10 = 2 093. 2 093/30 = 69.77. The employee would receive €69.77 per day of paid leave. This method is chosen because it is more favorable to the employee.

There is no increase in the vacation bonus for additional vacation days granted to young mothers.

Who pays vacation bonuses in the construction industry?

In the construction and public works sector, the paid vacation fund is responsible for paying vacation pay. Businesses in this sector are in fact required to join a fund and to pay contributions based on the gross salaries of their employees.

Frequently asked questions about vacation bonuses

On what date is the bonus paid?

The vacation bonus is managed by the BTP paid leave fund, with contributions based on the gross salaries of the companies. She pays the bonus at the same time as vacation pay, when the employee takes his leave. The acquisition period extends from April 1 to March 31.

Is the vacation bonus mandatory?

In the construction sector, the vacation bonus is mandatory for all employees, provided they meet the conditions defined in the sector's collective agreement. The criteria may include a minimum number of hours worked or a specific length of service within the company.

Are fixed-term contracts (CDD) affected by the vacation bonus?

Employees on fixed-term contracts (CDD), including apprentices and those on professionalization contracts, are eligible for the vacation bonus (in the construction sector). Its amount is calculated in proportion to their working time, using the same criteria as those applied to open-ended contracts.

Is the vacation bonus taxable?

The vacation bonus is subject to income tax and social security contributions. It must therefore be integrated when filling out the tax return.

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