Review of Working Time Directive

The European Commission has announced a review of EU working time law following failure to reach agreement on revising the Working Time Directive a year ago. It is seeking the views of employer and trade union organisations.

General secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) John Monks said: “Protection of the health and safety of workers must remain the primary goal of any review of the Working Time Directive.” He added: “There is a clear link between long and irregular working hours and increased work-related health problems. This evidence has not changed since the first legislation on working time.”

The ETUC is also calling for the implementation of European Court of Justice rulings about on-call work, unambiguous European minimum standards on working time and an end to the opt-out from the Working Time Directive.