What constitutes working time under EU law?

Under EU law, working time is defined as any time that employees are at the employer's disposal, including any time when they are performing their duties or are required to be present at their workplace. Therefore, the concept of working time extends beyond just the hours spent directly on job tasks to encompass periods when employees are under the control of the employer.

This definition recognizes that working time includes not only time spent actively engaged in performing work tasks but also any time that the employer requires an employee to be on the premises or otherwise available to work. Such a broad definition reflects the intention of labor law to protect workers and ensure they are compensated for all time when they are effectively under the employer's authority or obligations.

Commuting time and allocated break times typically do not count as working time under EU law, as employees are generally considered off-duty during these periods unless specific arrangements or obligations dictate otherwise.