← BlogMarch 17, 20235 min readEditorial teamDEUAENRU
For workers
Getting to Work and Site Assignments: Who Pays Travel and Meals?
If you work on assembly jobs or are sent to a different place every day, you quickly ask: who pays for the trip, the accommodation and meals on the road? Here are the key rules.
Fixed workplace or assignment?
It makes a difference whether you work at a fixed workplace or are sent out. The trip to a fixed workplace is normally paid by you. For tax purposes you can claim the commuter allowance: 30 cents per kilometre of distance, 38 cents from the 21st kilometre. For work at changing locations, such as construction sites, this is usually work away from the regular workplace. The employer can then reimburse travel costs tax-free, for example 30 cents per kilometre driven if you use your own car.
Accommodation
If you have to stay overnight at the place of work, this is work-related. The employer either provides the accommodation or reimburses the costs. More on this in our article on accommodation when working abroad.
Meal allowances
For absences of more than eight hours, the employer can pay €14 per day tax-free, and €28 for 24 hours away. For arrival and departure days the €14 rate applies. These flat rates apply for the first three months at the same place of work. They appear on your payslip only if your employer pays them. Check your contract here too.
Does travel count as working time?
The normal way from home to work is not working time. For business trips and assembly jobs it can be different. What matters are your employment contract, collective agreement and the employer’s specific instruction. If you travel between several sites on instruction, discuss beforehand how this time is paid. The €12 minimum wage applies to all time that counts as working time.
Safety on the way
The direct route to work and back is covered by statutory accident insurance. For shared rides in a company van, seats, driving licence and insurance should be clearly regulated. If you use your own car, clarify beforehand who pays for damage.
Clarify in advance
- Who organises and pays for the journey and trips on site?
- Is accommodation provided, and who bears the costs?
- Are meal allowances paid?
- From when does travel time count as paid working time?
- How does your payslip show what is reimbursed tax-free?
If you work as an installer, also read our article on the solar installer.
Frequently asked questions
Must my employer pay for the trip to the site?
For work away from the regular workplace, the employer usually bears or reimburses travel costs. It depends on the contract and the type of assignment.
How high are the meal allowances?
Tax-free €14 for more than eight hours away and €28 for 24 hours. The employer does not have to pay them.
Is travel time paid?
The normal commute is not. Business trips and trips between sites can count as working time. Contract, collective agreement and instruction decide.
Am I insured on the way to work?
Yes, statutory accident insurance covers the direct route.