What is the purpose of youth leave?

Youth leave allows employees to participate in training courses, study days or weeks, courses, sessions, meetings in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and abroad, in order to support the development of youth activities at local, regional and national level.

What activities are compatible with a youth leave?

The activities that may be taken into account for youth leave are the following: 

• training and development of youth activity leaders; 
• the training and further training of leaders of youth movements or cultural and sports associations, provided that the training and further training activities are aimed primarily at young people;  
• the organization and supervision of training courses or educational and cultural activities for young people. 

How long does youth leave last?

Beneficiaries of youth leave may be granted 60 days of leave throughout their professional career. However, no more than 20 days of youth leave are allowed in a two-year period. 

The days of youth leave granted correspond to the duration of the training. However, a young person who wishes to follow a training course for the organization and supervision of training courses or educational activities for young people and who does not hold a certificate as a youth worker or leader or does not have an equivalent qualification cannot expect to cover all of his or her training with youth leave. In this case, only two thirds of the number of days invested in youth work can be covered by youth leave. The fractions of days taken into account are rounded up to the next whole number. 

Youth leave may be split with a minimum of two days, except where a series of courses each lasting only one day is given. 

It may not be deducted from the normal leave fixed by law or by special agreement. 

For people working part-time, the days of youth leave are calculated proportionally. 

Under what conditions is youth leave granted? 

Youth leave is granted under the following conditions: 

• the person concerned must be employed on Luxembourg territory, i.e. either:
  • working under an employment contract to a company or association legally established and active in Luxembourg; 
  • practicing an independent or liberal profession.  
• the leave cannot be attached to the normal statutory annual leave or to a period of sickness if this accumulation would cause a continuous absence of more than three weeks ;
• leave may be postponed if the absence requested is likely to have a major impact on orderly business operations or on the scheduling of staff annual leave. 

What is the procedure for obtaining youth leave?

The person concerned must apply to the National Youth Service one month before the start of the leave requested. 

A predefined application form is to be filled in by the applicant and then by his/her employer (employees in the public or private sector). 

The applicant then submits this form to the organizer of the training or activity. 

This organizer (association or federation) certifies the participation of the applicant by its signature. 

What benefits are available to employees?

Employees who are awarded youth leave are entitled to a compensatory allowance for each day of leave equal to the average daily wage paid by their employer, upon presentation of a certificate of active participation, prepared by the organisation organising the training. 

This allowance may not exceed 4 times the minimum social wage for unskilled workers (see Social Parameters). This allowance is paid by the employer, who is reimbursed by the State for both the allowance itself and the employer’s share of social security contributions. The application for reimbursement must be made using a predefined form. 

Is youth leave considered to be a period of actual work?

Yes, during the period of leave, the legislative provisions on social security and labour protection remain applicable to the beneficiaries.