The Working Time Directive came into
force on the 1st October 1998. It is
a law made by the European Union and
applies to employment law in the UK.
The law applies to full-time,
part-time and casual workers as long
as they have been in the particular
job for 13 weeks. It does not apply
to certain workers such as, road,
sea, rail and air transport workers
and trainee doctors, members of the
armed forces, the police and the
self-employed.
Employers must not allow
employees to work more than 48 hours
a week (averaged over a seventeen
week period) unless the employees
have agreed in writing to do so.
With effect from November 1999
employees are entitled to a minimum
of four weeks' paid holiday per
year.
Workers 18 and over will have a
right to a 20 minute break where the
working day is longer than six
hours, in addition a rest period of
11 consecutive hours between each
working day and a separate 24 hour
rest period in each 7 days.
For night-workers the average
daily hours of work will be 8,
averaged over a 17-week period.
Night-workers will be entitled to
free regular health assessments to
ensure they are fit for night work.
Different rules apply to workers
over 16, but under 18. For example,
if they work from 10 PM to 6am
workers are entitled to health
assessments. They are entitled to 12
hours rest in each 24-hour period
worked and 30 minute breaks if they
have worked more than 4.5 hours.
Dismissal or selection for
redundancy of an employee for
refusing to work in excess of 48
hours or during an entitled break
period would be treated as Unfair
Dismissal.
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