The most relevant changes in working time regulation in Europe in 2019 and 2020 addressed challenges arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most focused on short-time working schemes, on approaches to teleworking for those able to work from home and on regulations to ensure the safe provision of essential services. In 2020, the average collectively agreed working week in the EU stood at 37.8 hours. Across the sectors analysed in the report, the collectively agreed normal working week was shortest in public administration (38 hours) and longest in transport (39.2 hours). Paid annual leave entitlement (taking into account those set through collective bargaining) stood at an average of 24.5 days across the EU. Key topics for discussion in all Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic included dealing with the impact of changes in working hours on different groups of workers and the role of working time in supporting economic recovery and job creation.
This section provides information on the data contained in this publication.
The report contains the following tables and figures.
List of tables
Table 1: Main statutory provisions regarding maximum weekly and daily working hours, 2020
Table 2: Average collectively agreed normal annual working time, 2020
List of figures
Figure 1: Average collectively agreed normal weekly working hours, 2020
Figure 2: Average collectively agreed normal weekly hours in selected sectors, 2020
Figure 3: Collectively agreed weekly working hours in education, 2020
Figure 4: Collectively agreed weekly working hours in health, 2020
Figure 5: Collectively agreed weekly working hours in transport, 2020
Figure 6: Collectively agreed weekly working hours in retail, 2020
Figure 7: Collectively agreed weekly working hours in public administration, 2020
Figure 8: Average number of usual weekly hours of work in main job, full-time employees, 2020
Figure 9: Average number of usual weekly hours of work in main job, full-time employees, EU, 2005–2020
Figure 10: Minimum paid annual leave, 2020 (days)
Figure 11: Average collectively agreed normal annual working hours, 2020
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Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2021), Working time in 2019–2020, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
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