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Working Time Regulations 1998

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Long title
  
...

Royal assent
  
1998

Citation
  
SI 1998/1833

Working Time Regulations 1998

Territorial extent
  
England and Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland

The Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833) is the United Kingdom statutory instrument which implements the EU Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC.

These Regulations govern the time that people in the UK may work. The Regulations apply to all workers (not just employees) and stipulate minimum rest breaks, daily rest, weekly rest and the maximum average working week. First, it sets a default rule that workers may work no more than 48 hours per week (although one may opt out of it). Secondly, it grants a mandatory right to paid annual leave of at least a minimum of 28 days (including bank holidays and public holidays). Thirdly, it creates the right to a minimum period of rest of 20 minutes in any shift lasting over 6 hours.

ECJ case law has confirmed that statutory holiday will continue to accrue during career breaks or sabbaticals.

Case law

  • UK v Council (Working Time Directive) [1996] ECR I-5755
  • Sindicato de Médicos de Asistencia Pública v Conselleria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalidad Valenciana [2000] ECR I-7963
  • R v DTI ex parte BECTU [2001] 3 CMLR 7
  • Blackburn v Gridquest Limited [2002] IRLR 604
  • Landeshauptstadt Kiel v Jaegar [2003] ECR I-08389
  • MacCartney v Oversley House Management [2006] IRLR 514
  • Lyons v Mitie Security Ltd [2010] IRLR 288, EAT decides a worker who does not give notice to take holidays may lose their paid annual leave entitlement (questionable compatibility with the WTD 2003).
  • References

    Working Time Regulations 1998 Wikipedia