Raising the minimum labor standards in the European Union

This brief provides an overview of the legal instruments of the EU on transparent and predictable working conditions and a work-life balance with a transposition deadline that expired in August 2022.
On 20 June 2019, the European Parliament and the Council adopted two important directives to raise minimum labor standards in the European Union – Directive 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union (EU Directive 2019/1152) and Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parent(s) and carer(s) (EU Directive 2019/1158). The deadline for transposition of EU Directive 2019/1152 expired on August 1, 2022 and the deadline for transposition of EU Directive 2019/1152 expired on August 2, 2022. This brief treats the main novelties and the importance of these two directives, and aspects important for our country regarding their harmonization.