Working Conditions in Luxembourg

General

In Luxembourg there are no strict rules for working hours and rates. However, here are the rules and conditions that are usually applied. Read also the legal status of freelancing artist and part time worker in the audiovisual sector and the corresponding update.

Permits

Luxembourg is part of the EU. No special working permits for EU citizens and Swiss citizens are needed.

Working hours

• Five days a week. A sixth day is possible through negotiations with crew.
• 11 hours of work which consist of 1 hour preparation, 8 hours shoot, 1 hour lunch or dinner break and 1 hour wrap.
• 11 hours turnaround from end of shooting to crew call.
• Normal day shoot working hours between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Continuous shooting day without lunch or dinner break consists of 7.5 hours a day including wrap.
• Maximum travel time (not paid) 1.5 hours per day. Any travel time exceeding this is part of the work time.
• Between last shooting day of one week and first shooting day of the following week there is a 36 hour turnaround required.

Rates

• Most of the crew are paid daily rates.
• Some head of departments can work on a flat fee deal for the whole production.
• There are no set minimum daily rates. However, the legal minimum wage for employees is EUR 81.27 per day for unqualified workers and 97.53 per day for qualified workers (changes slightly from year to year).A qualified worker is someone who has a university degree or similar in the profession they exercise.
• Crew members are either employed as a freelance or as an employee:
  • Employees — gross daily rate + employer’s part of fringes (see details below)
  • Freelancers — gross daily rate + 15% VAT (all fringes are covered by individual)

Consult the indicative rates for 2012.

Fringes

• Luxembourg employees are by law entitled to the below social benefits and 25 paid days holiday per year.
• Social benefits are approx. 25% of gross salary split roughly 50/50 between employee and the employer. See Taux 2011 for full details.

Split 50/50

• Health insurance: 6.1%
• Old age pension: 16%

Covered by employee

• Dependency: 1.4%
• Financial crisis contribution: 0.80%

Covered by employer

• Accidence insurance: 1.15%
• Unemployment insurance: 1.48%

Overtime

Depending on negotiations:

• After 10 hours (excluding lunch): up to +50%
• Sundays and national holidays: +100%
• Travel days are usually paid as a half day
• Nightshoots: no additional pay

Allowances

• Daily allowance for food EUR 15 if not supplied on set.
• Per diems: EUR 15 for lunch, EUR 25 for dinner.
• Car, phone and equipment allowances are negotiable.

Actor’s rates

• There are no minimum fees. Common daily rates are:
  • Beginners: +/- EUR 500 to +/- EUR 1000
  • Experienced actors: +/- EUR 1,500 to +/- EUR 5,000
• Please consider that the number of Luxembourg actors is limited. Therefore it is common to also employ foreign actors whose rates apply to their country’s standards and who will additionally require accommodation and per diems.
• Children need special permission from the government. Strict working rules apply. (see Code du Travail for full details — Art.L.341 to Art.L.344)

Extras

• There are no minimum fees. Common daily rates are:
  • Extra: +/- EUR 50
  • Featured extra: +/- EUR 100

Useful information and addresses

• Social security (Centre Commun de la Securite Sociale) — www.ccss.lu
• Ministry of work and employemnt (Ministère de travail et de l’emploi) — www.mte.public.lu
• Ministry of culture (Ministère de la Culture) — www.mc.public.lu
• Income tax office (Administration des Contributions directes) — www.impotsdirects.public.lu

• Association of technicians (ALTA Association Luxembourgeoise des Techniciens de l’Audiovisuel) — www.alta.lu
• Film Fund Luxembourg: en.filmfund.lu
• National Centre of Audiovisuals (CNA Centre National de l’Audiovisuel — www.cna.public.lu
• Film network (Filmreakter) — www.filmreakter.lu