Adequate working time is a crucial part of decent work. It represents a key element of working conditions and has a great impact on workers’ income, well-being, and living conditions.

Some of the major challenges regarding working time have persisted since the dawn of the industrial age: excessive hours of work and the need to protect workers’ health and safety by limiting working hours and providing adequate periods of rest and recuperation, including weekly rest and paid annual leave – which are enshrined in international labour standards.

On the other hand, in order to reach an adequate level of monthly remuneration, workers should have access to a minimum desirable number of hours of work, avoiding involuntary part-time employment and time-related underemployment.