Working hours in the construction industry

Who does the LMV apply to?

The Federal Council has declared the LMV 2026–2031 generally binding (from 1 April 2026 to 31 December 2031). It therefore applies to all employers whose main activity is in the main construction trade – such as building, civil engineering or road construction – even without membership in the builders' association.

There are no annual wage negotiations during its term – unless extraordinary inflation exceeds 2%.

Annual working hours and working-time calendar

Working time is planned across the year. Annual working time is 2,112 hours, equivalent to an average week of 40.5 hours. The business sets the distribution in a working-time calendar.

• Weekly hours in the calendar: at least 37.5 and at most 45 hours
• With a regular four- or four-and-a-half-day week, the minimum can drop to 32 hours
• Up to five zero-hour days per year can be planned in the calendar
• From 2027, a balanced model with constant daily hours is available as an alternative

2026 is a transition year: the planning year used to run from May to April. A separate working-time calendar is needed for May to December 2026; from 2027, planning follows the calendar year.

Overtime and excess hours

• Overtime is time beyond the planned weekly hours in the calendar. It is kept in an overtime account – from 2027 within a range of −20 to +120 hours.
• At year-end, the worker decides on at least half of their overtime: payout, carry-over to the new year or a long-term holiday account.
• Excess hours: work and travel time that together exceed 50 hours per week are paid in the following month at the base wage plus a 25% bonus.
• The former bonus for hours between 48 and 50 per week no longer applies.

Travel time

Travel time to the site is kept separate from annual working hours, but must be recorded.

• In 2026, the first 30 minutes of travel per day are unpaid and covered by a flat site allowance.
• From 2027, travel time above 60 minutes per day (above 90 minutes with constant daily hours) goes straight into the overtime account.
• In 2030 and 2031, the flat-rate travel time is reduced step by step to 20 minutes.

Mandatory time records

The LMV requires employers to keep detailed records of daily, weekly and monthly working time. Because the overtime account, excess hours and travel time are tracked separately, accurate daily records are the basis for every correct payroll.

What the Labour Act adds

• Daily and weekly working hours including overtime, and breaks of 30 minutes or more, must be recorded (Art. 46 ArG, Art. 73 ArGV 1).
• Records must be kept for at least 5 years.
• A rest period of at least 11 hours applies between two working days.

Holidays, wages and allowances

Holiday entitlement, minimum wages by wage class, the 13th month's salary and allowances are also set in the LMV. You will find the current rates in the contract text (links below).