Working time directive and its interpretation: another major piece in the European social rights puzzle

The author analyses the four most recent Court of Justice’s judgements in matter of working time: on the one hand, with Union Syndacal Solidaires Isère and Accardo cases, the Court has limited even more the possibility of derogating from the rules on daily and weekly rest period; on the other, with the twin rulings Fuß I and Fuß II, it has further clarified the rule fixing the maximum weekly working hours, highlighting its fundamental importance. Once again, the Court of Justice –balancing the needs of employees with the flexibility requirements put forward by companies – proves to be increasingly mindful of the workers’ right to a regular alternation between working and rest periods.