UK breaking EU employment law

The UK has been judged to be breaking EU employment law, for failing to ensure that workers have proper rest periods.

The case was brought by the European Commission in the European Court of Justice, after the UK was seen to be failing to enforce daily and weekly rest rules.

The rules involve a requirement to allow at least 11 hours before the end of one working day and the start of the next, plus 1 day with 11 hours at the weekend.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had issued guidelines that were accused of encouraging non-compliance because they did not force employers to allow for these rest periods.