EU: Commission recommends adjusting the working time directive to new work organizations and workers’ expectations

The communication on the revision of the working time directive, adopted by the College of Commissioners today, March 24, launches the first phase of consultation of the European social partners at cross-industry and sectoral level. The European Commission thinks that certain aspects regarding the organization of working time of Directive 2003/88 have to be reviewed, but “a key issue to address is the scope of any such review.” The Commission thinks that there are two possible ways to proceed: “concentrate on the aspects of the Directive that proved most problematic during the 2004–2009 negotiations, and try again to reach solutions that the co-legislators could now agree with.” The other branch of the alternative is the following: “a comprehensive review of the Directive, which will start with a thorough evaluation of its provisions, in order to identify current or potential issues relating to their application, and will then consider options for addressing such issues.” The Commission is in favor of this second option which is better, it says, because it’s the only way not to miss “an opportunity to re-assess the Directive in the light of the fundamental changes that have taken place in working patterns since it was originally conceived, and of the prospective needs of workers, businesses and consumers in the 21st century.”