Working Time

More than one million workers in the UK are on zero-hours contracts, with a significant number employed under these terms for extended periods, according to new analysis by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) . The data reveals that about 720,000 zero-hours workers have been with the same employer for over a year, and 130,000 have remained without full employment rights after a decade of service. Zero-hours contracts , which offer no guaranteed working hours, are most prevalent in hospitality, retail, and the health and social care sectors. The TUC argues that the widespread use of these contracts

The Latvian Confederation of Free Trade Unions (LBAS ) is advocating for a reduction of the standard working week from 40 to 38 hours without pay cuts. This proposal follows discussions on modernising Latvia’s Labour Law, which currently focus on enabling a four-day workweek while maintaining 40 hours. LBAS argues that reorganising working days does not address the need to reduce overall hours, highlighting worker health, productivity, and work-life balance. The push for a shorter working week aligns with broader European trends. Spain plans to introduce a 37.5-hour week, Iceland has

Disability care workers in Ireland are facing pay shortfalls after publicly funded disability service providers failed to apply the latest national minimum wage increases to sleepover shifts. SIPTU has condemned the situation, which has left some workers more than 600 euros short in earnings for 2024. Sleepover shifts require workers to remain on-site overnight to provide essential care if needed. A 2014 Labour Court ruling established that these shifts constitute working time and must be paid at least the national minimum wage. While the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides funding to

On 20 December 2024, CCOO and UGT reached a landmark agreement with the Ministry of Labour to reduce the maximum legal working week from 40 to 37.5 hours without affecting wages. This is the first reform of the legal working day since 1983 and represents a major step forward for workers in Spain. The agreement, pending parliamentary approval, aims to improve the quality of life for workers by redistributing productivity gains and addressing inequalities in sectors like hospitality, agriculture, and commerce. It also promotes gender equality, as many of the longest working days affect feminised

Copenhagen Municipality has decided to extend its experiment with flexible working hours after successful trials across 17 workplaces. The initiative, which began in the spring of 2024, allows workers to organize their working time in various ways. Options include working longer days to gain an extra day off each week, an extra day off every other week, or a fixed monthly day off. The program, developed in close dialogue with the HK Kommunal union, aims to help workers achieve a better balance between work and family life. By testing different flexible schedules, the municipality seeks to find

The Polish governmen t is moving towards a major reform of the Labour Code, with proposals to reduce working hours by either implementing a four-day week or shortening the workday to seven hours. These changes are expected before 2027, with the decision on the model likely to be left to individual companies. While both options are being debated, research shows a preference for the four-day week among employers. The Family, Labour, and Social Policy Ministry has emphasized the importance of addressing work-life balance, particularly for younger generations. Shortening the working week is seen

Negotiations on reducing working hours have hit a standstill, prompting union leaders to advocate for increased mobilizations. Both major unions CCOO and UGT are planning to intensify their efforts at the end of August and throughout September due to the stagnation in talks. The mobilizations will involve coordinated actions in the streets and workplaces to drive progress on this critical issue. The proposed reduction aims to decrease the workweek to 37.5 hours, a change that has not been implemented in over 40 years. While the government’s initial proposal was seen as a positive start, it

In a significant victory for emergency service workers, ver.di has successfully negotiated a reduction in maximum working hours for employees at the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) in Baden-Württemberg. By 2027, the maximum working hours will be reduced to 38.5 hours per week, a major step forward from the current standards and exceeding the German Red Cross's agreement of 42 hours by 2028. This agreement is part of ver.di's broader effort to address the high physical and emotional demands faced by emergency service personnel. Despite challenges in negotiations with the Association of Municipal

Greece’s recent implementation of a six-day workweek has sparked significant concern among trade unions, marking a controversial shift in labour policy under the centre-right New Democracy government. Introduced on July 1, the legislation allows employers in selected sectors to extend work hours, citing the need to address demographic challenges and boost economic productivity. The scheme as it stands applies to selected industrial and manufacturing facilities and businesses that provide round-the-clock services. It offers employers the right to add an additional two hours a day or a single

Nurses working in private hospitals across Portugal have launched a series of strikes to demand better working conditions and recognition of their professional rights. The strikes are organized by the Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) . The primary requests driving the strikes are the need for a revised Collective Agreement that ensures regulated hours, a 35-hour workweek, increased wages, fair compensation for demanding shifts and proper remuneration for shift work. The nurses' strike this saw high participation rates, ranging from 50% and up to 100% participation in many locations. This

EPSU has published the sixth article in its series of case studies examining working time developments in public services across Europe. In Poland, plans are underway to reduce the current 40-hour work week, promised by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aiming for implementation by 2027. Options include a four-day work week or reducing daily hours from eight to seven. In the Czech Republic, efforts to reduce working hours face legal barriers, especially in the public sector. A 2020 report highlighted existing collective agreements providing shorter hours in the private sector. Efforts continue to

Vårdförbundet has reached a breakthrough with a new agreement that addresses key concerns over working conditions and compensation. Following months of conflict and negotiation, the union has secured significant improvements for its members. The agreement includes a guaranteed salary increase of 3.05% and reduces the weekly working hours for many members, especially those working night shifts. Full-time employees on rotation will see their weekly hours reduced to 36 hours and 20 minutes or 34 hours and 20 minutes, depending on their night shift workload. The union emphasized the importance of