Zhe Wang, PhD

Candidate at School of Humanities, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China; graduated from School of Law, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Postal address: China University of Political Science and Law, No. 25 Xitucheng Lu, Haidian District, Beijing 100088, China.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i8-47

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ABSTRACT

Since its implementation in 2003, Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC has brought a series of benefits to employees in the European Union. It has played a significant role in restricting working time and guaranteeing rest breaks, which truly protected the health and safety of workers. However, given the economic recession in the European Union, the widespread nature of atypical employment relationships and enlargement of the European Union, the effectiveness of Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC has been doubted in recent years. Therefore, it is essential to analyse whether Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC remains fit for the purpose more than 15 years after its adoption and propose corresponding solutions to protect the health and safety of employees in these member countries.

KEYWORDS:

European labour law; Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC; working time; health and safety of employees

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VOlUME 06 ISSUE 08 AUGUST 2023