What is temporary unemployment?
A suspension of your employment contract, not its end. You stop working, totally or for some days a week, and your contract continues. When the reason disappears, you go back to work under the same contract.
The main reasons are a lack of work for economic reasons, bad weather in some sectors, a technical breakdown and force majeure, such as a fire or a flood. For white-collar employees, economic temporary unemployment is reserved for companies that meet specific conditions. Your employer must follow a procedure with the ONEM before applying it.
Who pays you during temporary unemployment?
The ONEM, through your payment body, a union or the CAPAC. The allowance is 60% of your gross pay, capped at €3,571.18 a month since 1 September 2026, or 65% for force majeure, according to the ONEM. A 26.75% withholding tax is deducted from all temporary unemployment allowances.
Your employer also pays a supplement for each day of economic temporary unemployment: at least €5 a day for white-collar employees and at least €2 for blue-collar workers, unless a sector fund pays it. An additional €5 a day is due from the first day if you earn €4,000 gross a month or less, and from the 27th day of the year otherwise, except for force majeure.
How much do you lose in practice?
A lot, for most IT and engineering salaries. Because of the cap, someone earning €5,000 gross a month receives 60% of €3,571.18 for days not worked, not 60% of €5,000. After withholding tax and the supplement, a day of temporary unemployment pays far less than a day of work.
Temporary unemployment can also affect amounts calculated on days worked. Check how your holiday pay and end-of-year bonus are affected under your sector’s rules, since sector agreements differ.
Can you resign during temporary unemployment?
Yes, and without notice. During a suspension for economic reasons, you can end the contract without notice or indemnity, whether the suspension is total or partial, as the SPF Employment explains. A written notification is advisable even though the law does not require it.
That right is useful if you have found another job: you can start immediately. It does not apply to force majeure or other reasons, where the normal resignation notice applies. If your employer has announced temporary unemployment, it may be a good moment to look at the IT and engineering roles currently open.
