Are Belgium’s general 2027 clocking rules already final?
No, according to the sources reviewed for this article. The announced general reform is not presented as a final adopted and published law. Distinguish the policy proposal, advisory opinions and the eventual applicable text.
Securex — Enregistrement du temps de travail à partir de 2027 : état des lieux
What timetable is being announced for SMEs?
The draft examined by the National Labour Council targets 1 January 2027, with a transition to the end of the first quarter for employers without a suitable system. Those dates remain conditional. On 20 October 2026, the minister still describes a draft and an advisory process.
| Reference point | What your SME should understand |
|---|---|
| Today | Check existing obligations and the quality of your current records. |
| Announced timetable for 2027 | Prepare the organisation; confirm dates and scope against the final legislation. |
Conseil national du travail — Avis n° 2.499 du 30 septembre 2026 · Chambre des représentants — Commission du 20 octobre 2026, point 02
Should you wait until 2027 to keep track of hours?
Not if your organisation already falls under specific rules. Belgium’s employment authority describes time tracking for flexitime and the recording of deviations from part-time schedules, among other duties. An unfinished general reform does not mean there are no current obligations.
SPF Emploi — Durée du travail, rubrique Horaires flottants · SPF Emploi — Contrôle des prestations des travailleurs à temps partiel
What should credible time records make possible?
European case law emphasises objective, reliable and accessible measurement of daily working time. Ask a practical question when choosing a tool: could you explain a working day, its origin and any corrections without reconstructing several files?
- Identify the worker, site and clocking method.
- Retain original facts and distinguish corrections.
- Find decisions and hours still awaiting review.
How TiraNote is preparing this approach
TiraNote is designed to connect clocking with hours follow-up: a smartphone or shared native kiosk, retained original events, flagged exceptions and attributed corrections with a recording date and reason. An authenticated source helps identify an event’s origin; it does not by itself prove physical presence or a compliant session.
The planned launch scope includes rules adapted by site and standard hours reports in every plan. The announced product policy aims for at least five years of clocking and audit history. This is a product commitment to implement, not a universal legal retention period for every type of data.
TiraNote is not yet publicly available. Reports and automatic break deduction are planned for launch. Payroll Connect and Device Connect remain future options. This is not compliance certification or a promise of automatic adaptation to every legal change.
Four useful decisions to make now
Start with the real working day. Decide who clocks in, using which method, under which break policy and with which person responsible for follow-up. Inform the team and agree how omissions are handled. Then test a representative week before expanding.
Keep data collection proportionate to the task: identify useful information, necessary access and suitable retention periods. Location data should not become continuous tracking by default. TiraNote plans location collection that is off by default and can be enabled according to the chosen needs and rules.
Your getting-started checklist
- Check the rules already applicable to your business.
- Name an owner for clocking records and exceptions.
- Explain breaks and the correction process.
- Test an hours report before using it.
- Recheck official sources before a decision based on 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Will SMEs with fewer than ten workers be exempt?
Do not treat that exemption as settled. The question is being discussed in preparatory work; the final legislation must define its scope.
Chambre des représentants — Commission du 20 octobre 2026, point 02
Will I need to buy a physical time clock?
The announced approach leaves a choice of recording method. Whether a smartphone, kiosk or another system is appropriate depends on your organisation and the final requirements.
Securex — Enregistrement du temps de travail à partir de 2027 : état des lieux
Will using TiraNote automatically make my business compliant?
No. The tool prepares recording and traceability. Your chosen rules, employee information, data quality and applicable obligations still need to be checked.
Sources and verification date
Sources checked on 31 October 2026
- Conseil national du travail — Avis n° 2.499 du 30 septembre 2026
- Chambre des représentants — Commission du 20 octobre 2026, point 02
- CJUE — Arrêt C-55/18, communiqué du 14 mai 2019
- SPF Emploi — Durée du travail, rubrique Horaires flottants
- SPF Emploi — Contrôle des prestations des travailleurs à temps partiel
- Securex — Enregistrement du temps de travail à partir de 2027 : état des lieux