제 목 : Forty-Eihgt-Hour Week Maximum Likely Soon in EU
일 자 : 1996년 11월
제공처 : Safety ＆ Health
The European Working Hours Directive is well on its way to
becoming law in the l5 member states. Essentially, the directive
limits the workweek to 48 hours including overtime. This can be
averaged out over periods of up to l2 months, depending on
circumstances. Eight economic activities are currently excluded
from the directive. These are transport activities (sea, air, land,
rail and inland waterways), sea fishing, other work at sea
and doctors in training.
The directive also includes requirements that cover paid holiday
and rest breaks.
Opponents of the directive say that hours of work should not be
considered as an occupational health and safety issue but rather
a social issue. The British government has taken the European
Commission to the European Court of Justice over the matter.
However, the EU advocate general has ruled against the British
claims, emphasizing the broad concept of "working environment" as
the basis of workplace health. This includes work organization,
performance and conditions. The court itself is almost certain
to follow the advocate general's ruling.
Member states have until December l996 to transpose
the directive into their own law books.
So far, Germany,Portugal,Spain and the Netherlands have taken
measures to achieve this. The com mission has not yet received
any official notifications of delays from member states,
as has often occurred with other health and safety drrectives.
This may be partly because actual working hours do not vary greatly
from what the directive requires.
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