The
Government has extended the 1998 Working Time Directive to include some workers
and sectors previously excluded from the original draft.
Around
770,000 employees will be affected by the new regulations, which will come into
force on 1 August.
The
provisions will entitle staff to an average working week of 48 hours, four
weeks’ paid leave, rest breaks, an eight-hour limit on night work and regular
health assessments for night staff.
The
new rules will cover non-mobile staff in the road, rail, air and sea transport
sectors, mobile workers in the rail and non-HGV transport sectors, and offshore
oil and gas workers.
The
DTI also announced the legislation will be phased in for doctors in training.
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By Ross Wigham