Spidla gaat werken aan compromis over arbeidstijden (en)

Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities regretted that no agreement could be reached today on revising the Working Time Directive but welcomed the progress made regarding technical details at today's Council meeting.

"I trust we should now be able to find a workable political compromise that will meet the needs of a flexible and productive labour market without jeopardising the health and safety of European employees," said Vlamdimir Spidla today. "I would like to thank the Dutch Presidency for its constructive efforts to reconcile the different positions of the Member States and I am confident we will have a basis for agreement on this important piece of legislation under the Luxembourg Presidency".

The Commission's proposal of 28 September updates key aspects of the original 1993 directive to respond to the needs of the modern economy whilst protecting the health and safety of workers. It retains the individual opt-out from the 48-hour maximum working week but also makes it subject to collective bargaining where collective agreements are possible. It further provides that time spent on call that is not actually worked does not need to be counted as working time and it makes arrangements for calculating the average 48-hour maximum working week more flexible.