This is envisaged by amendments to the Labor Code and a number of other legislative acts developed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The draft document is proposed for public consultations.
One of the novelties states that the legal duration of night work should not exceed an average of eight hours per day, calculated over a reference period of four calendar months. All statutory provisions on weekly rest must be complied with. This also applies to the duration of work involving special risks, increased physical, intellectual or psycho-emotional strain. It must not last more than eight hours, unless otherwise stipulated by a collective agreement or a collective bargaining agreement.
According to the draft, adolescents aged 15-16 years will not be allowed to work from 20:00 to 06:00.
Another new norm prescribes the maximum working hours of employees. It may not exceed 48 hours per week, including overtime. As an exception, working time, including overtime, may be extended provided that the average working time calculated over a reference period of four calendar months does not exceed 48 hours per week. For certain activities or professions, it will be allowed to conclude a collective labor agreement, the duration of which may exceed four calendar months, but not more than six.
However, if health and safety rules for employees are observed, for objective, technical or organizational reasons, the collective agreement may provide for deviations from the reference period, but for no more than twelve calendar months. In determining the reference periods, the duration of annual leave and cases of suspension of an individual labor contract are not taken into account.
