Luxembourg Updates Labour Law to Ease Hiring in Agriculture, Viticulture and Horticulture

The Luxembourg government has unveiled a draft law to reform work rules in agriculture, viticulture and horticulture — making employment simpler and more flexible for seasonal and occasional workers. The new proposal, presented on 26 November 2025 by the ministers responsible for Labour and Agriculture, aims to ease some of the red tape that has long burdened farms and vineyards.

Under the new plan, a legal definition of an “occasional contract” will be added to the labour code, with a tailored legal regime. For short-term jobs — those lasting no more than a month — employers will no longer be required to prepare a monthly wage statement. Instead, payment and salary documentation must be completed the day after the final workday, giving both employees and employers faster, simpler processing.

The proposal also simplifies the hiring process: candidates for low-risk occasional jobs won’t need the usual medical exam if they already hold a valid health certificate issued in another EU country. This cuts down administrative burdens while still ensuring worker safety.

New rules cover more than just employment terms. For example, when farms, vineyards or horticultural businesses host on-site tasting or sale areas (so-called “Wäistuff”), those parts can follow restaurant-sector working-time laws — potentially making operations more practical and flexible.

On a broader note, some horticultural businesses will now be allowed more flexibility regarding Sunday work — a move aimed at accommodating the rhythms of seasonal production and harvest times.

The government says the changes respond directly to feedback from stakeholders gathered at a July 2024 meeting that highlighted practical difficulties in the current system. Ministers emphasised that the aim is not to weaken worker protections, but to adapt regulations to the real needs of agriculture and viticulture — letting producers focus on farming rather than paperwork.

If approved, the reforms could make seasonal employment smoother and more appealing, helping address labour shortages and preserving the viability of Luxembourg’s farming and wine industries.

Read More : Government of Luxembourg
Draft law amending the Labour Code on labour relations in the agriculture, viticulture and horticulture sectors - Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture - The Luxembourg Government