Labour Research February 2004

Features: Law queries

Working time

Who do we go to if we want to make a complaint about working time? We believe that our employer is not complying with the law.

Obviously individual workers who believe that their employer is imposing conditions that are incompatible with the working time regulations can make individual complaints to employment tribunals under Regulation 30 of the Working Time Regulations 1998.

However, if your issue is a general one you may want to pursue it by taking the case to the Health and Safety Executive.

Under Regulation 28 it has the duty "to make adequate arrangements for the enforcement of the relevant requirements".

However, if you are in a workplace subject to inspection by the local authority, that is the body responsible for the enforcement of the regulations.

Local authorities must carry out their functions with whatever guidance they are provided with by the Health and Safety Commission.

* More information: LRD booklet, Working time - a guide to the regulations