Working Time Directive Consultation

The Working Time Directive may change, but don’t hold your breath!

The Working Time Directive may be reviewed after a new EC consultation with employers and unions or their representative organisations. A comprehensive first review would identify current or potential issues left unresolved by the lack of agreement reached so far. The Commission has suggested that it is going to focus on issues that have cause problems during 2004-9 negotiations and also fundamental changes that have taken place in working patterns sinc the Directive was introduced in 1993.

The consultation will last six weeks and, after consideration of the responses, may lead to a second-phase consultation to cover the content of any proposals for action. The Commission will also carry out an extensive impact assessment.