These are the key messages that the ETUC is giving today to the European Commission, in its position on the review of the WTD approved by its Executive Committee last week. The Commission has launched a new round of consultations of the European social partners, after the previous attempts to revise the WTD –taking 7 years of struggle between European Parliament and Council – failed last year.

Said John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC: “With the Charter of Fundamental Rights now legally binding, the European Institutions must take its obligations even more seriously, i.e. to guarantee to every worker in the EU the right to limitation of his/her working hours in order to respect his/her health, safety and dignity at work. The Commission has asked us to check the WTD if it is fit for the 21-st century. In our view, such a check shows that the basic rules and principles of the WTD are as relevant as ever. But we also think that the WTD should be strengthened, especially to provide modern 21-st century workers - who are confronted with more pressure to accept irregular hours and shift work, but at the same time with stronger demands to reconcile work with family and care obligations - with the tools to negotiate better working times and schedules with their employers. However, we will not support any proposal for revision of the Directive if it does not first and foremost deals with putting an end to the opt-out, and proposing solutions on on-call work which respect the ECJ judgements on this matter. The Commission has asked the social partners at EU level to consider solving the problems in the social dialogue, passing on the ‘hot potato’ to us. But seeing the positions of us and the employers so far apart, we do not believe that currently the conditions are in place for a fruitful exercise. “

 Resolution and Position