Working time in the twenty-first century

This discussion report is based on the assumption that international working-time policy needs to find an appropriate, widely acceptable balance between female and male workers’ needs (which should include protections with regard to workers’ health, safety and their personal/family lives) and the requirements of enterprises, while also considering the needs of the community, including gender equality. In this context, it is understood that there are minimum standards regarding working time that are human rights and should not be subject to economic considerations, such as those which are essential to the protection of workers’ health.