Can a Student Worker Do Overtime? What You Need to Know
Can a student worker do overtime? Yes, as a student worker you can work extra hours, provided that you and your employer agree on it and you have a student agreement. Do keep an eye on your hours package: for every hour above your package of 650 hours, you pay the normal social contributions instead of the lower solidarity contribution. You also remain a student after those 650 hours, so your contract remains mandatory.
In this article we explain what overtime means in a student job, what changes after your hours package, what that does to your pay and how to arrange it in practice.
Can a student worker do overtime? The short answer
There is no ban on extra hours for student workers. Two things are involved, and it helps to keep them apart:
- Your contract and your agreements: how many hours you work on a given day or in a given week is something you agree with your employer and put in writing.
- Your hours package: this is the number of hours per year for which you get the favourable rate for social contributions. You are allowed to work more, but after that you pay the normal contributions.
So overtime is not forbidden, but it does affect your net pay. We explain that step by step below.
What is overtime in a student job?
Student workers use the word "overtime" for two situations. It helps to know which one you are talking about.
- More hours than agreed: your contract says, for example, that you work a certain number of hours, but you stay longer because it is busy or because a colleague drops out.
- More hours than your hours package: over the whole year you work more than the 650 hours for which you pay the low solidarity contribution.
In the first situation, your contract, together with the agreements within the company and the collective labour agreement of your sector, determines how those extra hours are arranged and compensated. In the second situation, the rules on the hours package apply. That is what most student workers have questions about.
Do you often work longer than agreed? Then ask your employer how extra hours are recorded and paid. That avoids discussion afterwards. On student jobs you can see right away which agreements come with an assignment.
What happens after your hours package of 650 hours?
Your hours package is the number of hours per year in which you pay fewer social contributions as a student. Since 1 January 2025, that package contains 650 hours. The package starts counting again every year from 1 January.
During those hours you pay a solidarity contribution of 2.71% of your gross wage. A regular employee generally pays 13.07% in social contributions. Your employer also pays a solidarity contribution, namely 5.42% of your gross wage.
Do you work more than 650 hours? That is allowed. For every hour above your package, you pay the normal social contributions. In addition:
- You remain a student and you still sign a student agreement or contract with your employer.
- You are not obliged to use up your 650 hours. You decide that in consultation with your employer.
- After your package, your employer also pays the normal contributions. That can play a role in his choice to give you more extra hours.
On the Student@work website you will find an overview of your package. Check it regularly, especially in the summer and during exam periods when you can build up a lot of hours.
Overtime and your pay: what is left?
The gross wage is the amount your employer has to pay you. Social contributions and possibly taxes (withholding tax) are deducted from it. What remains is your net wage.
If you work within your hours package, only the solidarity contribution is deducted from your gross wage. If you only pay that contribution, in most cases you do not have to pay taxes either. You do have to file a tax return.
As soon as you work above your package, you pay the normal social contributions on those extra hours. Your net hourly wage for those hours is therefore lower than for the hours before. What the tax situation looks like when you work more, you can check with the FPS Finance or via your tax return. That depends on your overall situation.
How much you earn per hour depends on the sector you work in. Within a sector there may be collective labour agreements (CLAs) in which the minimum wage is agreed. So ask your employer which CLA applies and what it says about extra hours worked.
Do you want to know what it will earn you net before you accept an extra shift? Ask your employer for the gross wage of those hours and do the calculation yourself with the percentages above.
Combining overtime with association work or hospitality
Do you also work for an association next to your student job, or are you active in the hospitality sector? Then extra rules apply.
Association work: you can combine your 650 hours of student work with a maximum of 190 hours of association work per year. If you work more than those 190 hours in an association, the extra hours are deducted from your hours package of 650 hours. Your package then runs out faster.
Hospitality: as a student in the hospitality sector, you choose, in consultation with your employer, between two systems: your 650 student hours or 50 days of occasional work. During those 50 days, social contributions are not calculated on your actual wage, but on a fixed low amount (a flat rate). Through the online service Horeca@work you can see how many days you have left.
Overtime in hospitality therefore either comes off your 650 hours, or counts toward your days of occasional work, depending on the system you choose. Agree on this in advance, so that you know which system applies to your extra hours.
In practice: contract and Dimona
Even if you work extra hours, everything has to be arranged correctly. These are the basic points:
- Student agreement: you sign it with your employer, even if you work above your hours package. You remain a student, so your contract remains necessary.
- Dimona: your employer registers you via Dimona before you start working. Do you have an extra period or a new shift outside your original contract? Then check whether your contract and your registration are still correct for it.
- Agreements on paper: have it recorded on which days and hours you work, and how extra hours are settled or paid.
- Your hours package: check the number of hours worked yourself, especially if you work for several employers.
Are you studying and looking for a job with clear agreements? Then take a look at the locations where you can work as a student and discuss the conditions with the company in advance.
Five tips for handling extra hours smartly
- Know how many hours you have already worked. Keep your own overview and compare it with your package of 650 hours. That way you know when the normal social contributions start.
- Agree on extra hours in advance. Do not say yes or no on the spot without knowing what it earns you. Ask how the wage is calculated.
- Keep your schedule and your payslips. If a question comes up later about hours worked, you have proof.
- Think about your studies. An extra shift during the study period can cost you your results. Your employer cannot schedule you before your exams if you have not agreed to that.
- Combine smartly. If you also work in an association or in hospitality, first check how many hours or days you have left.
Frequently asked questions about overtime as a student worker
Can I work more than 650 hours as a student worker?
Yes. After your 650 hours, you do pay the normal social contributions. You remain a student and sign a student agreement with your employer.
Am I obliged to use my 650 hours?
No. In consultation with your employer, you decide whether or not to use your package.
Will I get a new hours package next year?
Yes. Your package starts counting every year from 1 January.
Does association work count toward my hours package?
You can combine your 650 hours with a maximum of 190 hours of association work per year. If you work more than 190 hours in an association, the extra hours are deducted from your package.
Can I do a flexi-job as a student to work extra?
Generally not. A flexi-job is intended for people with a main job or a pension. As a student you work with a student agreement. You can read more about that other status on the page about flexi-jobs.
In summary
A student worker can do overtime, but you have to keep three things in mind: your agreements with your employer, your hours package of 650 hours and your student agreement. Above that package you pay the normal social contributions, so your net pay per hour is lower. Agree on extra hours in advance and keep track of your hours yourself.
Are you looking for a student job with clear agreements? Then take a look at the student jobs and read more tips on our blog. Are you already registered as a worker? Then go to shifters. Employers who want to hire students can find information on the page for companies.
