In June 2019, the European Council adopted the Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions in the European Union. The new Directive introduces new minimum rights and rules on the information to be provided to employees about their working conditions.
The Directive is applicable to all employees working more than 3 hours per week over a period of 4 weeks (12 hours per month). Specific categories of employees may be excluded from some of the Directive's provisions e.g. civil servants, armed forces, emergency services or law enforcement services.
According to the Directive, employers are required to inform employees from the first day of their employment (and no later than the 7th calendar day), of the essential aspects of their employment relationship, such as the:
- identity of the parties of the employment relationship, the place and nature of work;
- initial basic amount of salary and the amount of paid leave;
- identity of the social security institution in which the social security contributions are paid by the employer.
In the event that the work pattern cannot be predicted in whole or part, employers are required to inform employees of the respective hours and days during which they may be expected to work, the minimum period of advance notice received by the employees before the commencement of their work and the number of guaranteed paid hours.
Moreover, additional rights are provided to the employees by the new Directive, including the:
- right to have a job in parallel with a different employer;
- right to limit the probationary period to a maximum of 6 months. Longer periods are allowed only in the event that this is in the interest of the employee or is justified by the nature of the work;
- right to request more predictable and secure working conditions after, at least, 6 months of service with the same employer;
- right to receive free training, when this is required by EU or national legislation.
Member States will have to comply with the Directive until 2022 and are welcome to introduce any further provisions which are more favourable for employees.
