Working time developments – 2009

In 2009, average collectively agreed weekly working time in the European Union stood at 38.7 hours. The figure was 0.8 hours lower in the pre-2004 EU15 and 0.9 hours higher in the new Member States. Agreed normal annual working time averages around 1,750 hours – just above 1,700 in the EU15 and a little over 1,800 in the new Member States. Of three sectors examined, agreed weekly hours are highest in retail, followed by chemicals and the civil service. Average collectively agreed paid annual leave entitlement stood at 24.5 days across the EU in 2009. This EIRO report also examines statutory working time and leave limits, and actual working hours.