Student Jobs in Luxembourg: Contract Rules, Hour Caps and Minimum Pay Explained

Who Can Sign a Student Contract in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's labour authority (ITM) sets specific rules for school and university students who want to work during the holidays. To be eligible, you must be at least 15 years old and not yet have reached 27 years of age. You also need to be enrolled in a Luxembourg or foreign school and following a full-time programme, or have left school less than 4 months ago.

This "student occupation contract" is a specific type of agreement for school holiday work, separate from an ordinary employment contract. From 2026, compulsory schooling in Luxembourg extends to age 18, which limits which fixed-term or indefinite contracts under-18s can sign, with some legal exceptions. A minor of at least 16 who signs a work contract can get a schooling exemption if a parent or guardian submits a written request to the Ministry of Education at least 8 days before the exemption is meant to start.

The 2-Month, 346-Hour Cap During School Holidays

Within a single calendar year (January 1 to December 31), a student can work a maximum of 2 months or 346 hours during school holidays, whether under one contract or several. That figure comes from 2 periods of 173 hours each.

For example, a student could sign one or more part-time contracts of 20 hours a week, equal to 86.5 hours a month, spread across 4 months of the calendar year, since 4 times 86.5 equals 346. Each contract must be in writing and drawn up individually for each student.

Working Outside School Holidays: the 15-Hour Weekly Average

A separate type of fixed-term "student contract" can also be signed outside school holidays, generally from age 18, subject to legal exceptions. In that case, working time is capped at an average of 15 hours a week, measured over a period of 1 month or 4 weeks. The applicable minimum wage rules still apply.

By comparison, an ordinary fixed-term or indefinite contract for a student aged 18 or over can run up to 40 hours a week, under the common social minimum wage.

Minimum Pay for Student Workers, by Age

Student pay cannot be lower than 80% of the social minimum wage, and it is graduated by age. As of 2026 (index 992.24), the gross figures are:

Age	Rate	Gross hourly wage	Gross monthly wage
18 and over, unqualified	80% of 100% of the minimum wage	12.8154 euros	2,217.06 euros
17 to 18	80% of 80% of the minimum wage	10.2523 euros	1,773.65 euros
15 to 17	75% of 80% of the minimum wage	9.6115 euros	1,662.80 euros

If a student works beyond the maximum allowed duration, the ordinary (non-student) minimum wage applies instead for the excess period, which is higher: 16.0192 euros an hour (2,771.33 euros a month) for an unqualified worker aged 18 or over, 19.2231 euros an hour (3,325.59 euros a month) for a qualified worker aged 18 or over, 12.8154 euros an hour (2,217.06 euros a month) for ages 17 to 18, and 12.0144 euros an hour (2,078.49 euros a month) for ages 15 to 17.

On the tax side, the employer can request a withholding tax exemption if the student's pay does not exceed 16 euros an hour. Above that threshold, withholding tax applies as normal.

What Student Contracts Don't Include

A student under this type of contract has the same working conditions as other employees at the company, but with important exceptions. There is no right to the 26 days of paid annual leave that regular employees get. A student can still request unpaid "extraordinary leave" if the employer agrees to grant it. Sick days are, in principle, not paid either.

On social security, the student is covered only for accident insurance during this type of contract, so the employer does not pay health or pension insurance contributions for this status. One point in the student's favour: a minor working under this contract during school holidays is allowed to work on Sundays and legal public holidays.