Working Hours, Rest Breaks and Holiday Entitlement
This Directive was passed in 1993 and came into effect in the UK on 1 October 1998. The Regulations are in effect Health and Safety Regulations and are seen as an important supplement to Health and Safety protection for workers.
Note that the Working Time Regulations apply to workers, not just employees. Therefore,casual workers, home workers, agency staff and others who work for the employer (as distinct from being self-employed) will qualify. The Regulations lay down certain minimum standards in the areas of working time, breaks and holidays. These are minimum standards. There is nothing to prevent employers from giving workers more than these minimum standards.