Following consultation with the EU Commission, the European social partners have decided to launch talks designed to reach agreement on a revised Working Time Directive.
The EU Commission announced a new review of the Working Time Directive in 2009 after a previous effort to amend it ended when the EU Parliament and the Council could not reach agreement on draft amendments. Following consultation with the social partners (SPs) at EU level, the SPs have jointly decided to launch talks and have 9 months to reach agreement. If they reach an agreement, they are entitled to ask for its implementation as a Directive. Previous successful outcomes negotiated by the European social partners include directives on parental leave, part-time work and fixed-term work. In they do not reach an agreement, the Commission will introduce a legislative proposal, based on its consultation with the SPs.
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