Organisation of working time to cover sectors and activities excluded from Directive 93/104/EC

The Committee has endorsed the report on sectors excluded from Directive 93/104/EC on working time. The committee backed a package which consists of four proposals for directives but made several amendments to the horizontal directive and the proposal on the organisation of working time in road transport . Raphael CHANTERIE (EPP, B), rapporteur on the organisation of working time to cover excluded sectors and activities (the horizontal directive), suggested that during the global revision of the directive the Commission should find a new legal base for provisions relating to Sunday rest. As to doctors undergoing training, he considered the Commission proposal for a seven year derogation to be too long. Member States would be able to adjust to the new provisions within four years. MEPs accepted the principle of reference periods exceeding four months in the offshore sector if they are established through collective agreements or agreements concluded at workplace level. These should not, however, exceed 12 months. The committee also clarified the definition of "share-fishermen" (whose pay consists solely of a share in the proceeds of their vessel), who will not be covered by the provisions on annual leave. The horizontal directive will now cover all non-mobile workers, all railway and offshore workers and doctors in training. In addition, mobile workers in road, air and inland waterway transport and sea fishing will be guaranteed adequate rest periods, a limit on their annual working hours and four weeks· annual leave. The proposal also contains provisions to protect night workers and shift workers. �