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In Brief...
The Working Time Regulations have been in place
for a number of years and were due to be implemented, for previously
excluded sectors such as rail air and sea transport, by August
2003.
These regulations can require changes to current working patterns and hours of
work that are difficult to develop manually.
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| The basic rights and protections that the Regulations
provide are: |
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a limit of an average of 48 hours a week which
a worker can be required to work |
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(though workers
can choose to work more if they want to). |
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a limit of an average of 8 hours work in 24
which night workers can be required to work. |
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a right to 11 hours rest a day. |
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a right to a day off each week. |
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a right to an in-work rest break if the working
day is longer than six hours. |
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a right to four weeks paid leave per year. |
| Working
Time Directive for the Road Transport sector |
| (From the Dept.
for Transport web site). |
Downloads: |
Word
Doc, (41 Kb) |
There are two directives on working time that will affect drivers in
the road transport sector.
The first is the horizontal amending directive (2000/34/EC), which implemented
in the UK on 1 August 2003 under the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations
2003 (SI.1684) affects nearly everyone in the transport sector.
Non-mobile workers in the road transport sector will be affected by all
the provisions under this directive.
However, only some of its provisions affect mobile workers.
The second directive (2002/15/EC), usually referred
to as the "road transport directive" (RTD is
specific to the road transport sector. It only affects
mobile workers who participating in road transport activities
covered by EU drivers' hours rules (Regulation (EEC)3820/85).
The UK has until 23 March 2005 to implement this directive.
Horizontal Amending Directive (HAD):
Four provisions will affect drivers who fall outside
the scope of the sector specific directive - i.e. drivers
of smaller vehicles and drivers of other vehicles that
are exempt from the EU drivers' hours rules. These provisions
are;
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the 48 hour average working week, |
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the requirement to have four weeks paid annual leave, |
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regular health checks for night workers, and |
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the need for "adequate rest". |
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Under this amending directive workers are allowed to opt-out of the 48
hour average working week.
Mobile workers subject to the Road Transport Directive are only entitled
to annual leave and health checks.
Guidance on the application of the existing working time regulations,
as amended by the Horizontal Amending Directive can be found on the DTI
web site or can be obtained from the orderline number 0870 1502 500.
The Road Transport Directive (RTD):
In addition to the annual leave and health checks requirement
of the Horizontal Amending Directive (HAD), the Road
Transport Directive (RTD) introduces additional protection
for mobile workers.
Employees within the scope will be covered by 23 March 2005 and self-employed
drivers should be covered by 23 March 2009.
The directive includes:
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Weekly "working time" is restricted
to an average 48 hour week and a maximum 60 hours in
any single week. |
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There is no "opt-out" for individuals wishing
to work longer than an average 48 hour week, but break
periods and 'periods of availability' do not count
as working time. |
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Periods of availability include accompanying a
vehicle on a ferry crossing and waiting for a vehicle
to be loaded / unloaded.
However, drivers need to be notified in advance about these periods
(i.e. just before the start of the period in question), and their
approximate duration.
For mobile workers driving in a team, it includes time spent sitting
next to the driver while the vehicle is in motion.
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the need for "adequate rest". |
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Night workers are limited to 10 hours work in
each 24 hour period.
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Derogations are available for Member States under
the Road Transport Directive.
Under certain circumstances, derogations can be permitted from the
10 hour daily limit for night work, and increase the reference period
for the 48 hour average week can also be increased from 4 to 6 months.
There is no derogation from the 60 hour maximum week. |
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Breaks: Workers must have
a break after 6 hours.
A break of 30 minutes is required for 6-9 hours work; 45 minutes
for over 9 hours.
Breaks can be divided into 15 minute slots.
Where mixed driving and working is carried out, the drivers' hours
rules on breaks (EC/3820/85) take precedence. |
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Rest: Same as drivers' hours rules (EC/3820/85)
or failing that, the AETR Agreement - but also
applies to trainees.
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Self-employed drivers who do not satisfy the criteria
under the definition of the "self-employed
driver" will be covered from 2009. Under this
definition, self-employed drivers should have a "community
licence or any other professional authorisation
to carry out aforementioned transport.., are not
tied to an employer by employment contract or by
any other type of hierarchical relationship..,
whose income depends directly on the profits made...,
[and] has commercial relations with several customers"
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