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European Working Time Directive |
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The European Working Time Directive came into force on 1 October 1998 for consultants and other career grade hospital doctors, originally excluding SHO’s. However, agreement was reached in May 2000 between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the arrangements and timetable for doctors in training to be included within the Working Time Directive.
It sets out to implement to following restrictions: August 2004 Interim limit of an average 58-hour maximum working week + rest requirements
August 2007 Interim limit of an average 56-hour maximum working week
August 2009 Deadline for the average 48-hours maximum working week—this deadline may be extended by another three years with an interim limit of an average 52 hours maximum working week, if exceptional circumstances apply.
European rest requirements The rest requirements should come into effect in August 2004 are as follows: ¨ A minimum daily consecutive rest period of 11 hours ¨ A minimum rest break of 20 minutes when the working day exceeds 6 hours ¨ A minimum rest period of 24 hours in each 7 day period ¨ A minimum of 4 weeks paid annual leave ¨ A maximum of 8 hours work in each 24 hours for night workers
All resident hours will count as work, this has been supported in the opinion of the Advocate General in a recent test case in Germany (Jaeger Case). |
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The European Working Time Directive is designed to protect the health and safety of workers by restricting the number of hours an individual can work and imposing minimum rest requirements for all workers. |
