Arbeidstijdenwet
Working Hours Act
The Working Hours Act is the Dutch legislation that lays down rules on the maximum working hours, minimum rest periods and night work of employees in order to safeguard their health and safety.
The Working Hours Act, often abbreviated as the Atw, lays down rules governing working hours, breaks, night work and rest periods for employees in the Netherlands. The Act applies to the majority of employment contracts and establishes a mandatory framework within which employers must organise the deployment of staff.
The Act is relevant because breaches may give rise to fines, liability or claims for damages. In practice, the Working Hours Act is frequently supplemented by collective agreement provisions and serves as a benchmark in employment disputes or inspections by the SZW Inspectorate.
“The employer verified whether the planned shifts complied with the Working Hours Act before the new rosters were published.”
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