The Uniform Concept of Working Time in the European Union: What Role for Collective Bargaining?

Pedro Marmelo Vieira, a junior associate at Morais Leitão, has recently had his master's dissertation, recognised by the Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Porto School, published in the Yearbook by UCP Editora, volume 8 (2025).

Entitled "The Uniform Concept of Working Time in the European Union: What Role for Collective Bargaining?", the dissertation received an award for achieving the highest grade in the Master's Programme in Labour Law.

The dissertation examines the evolution of the concept of working time in light of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, questioning whether Article 197 of the Portuguese Labour Code remains compliant with EU law.

The research also explores the challenges arising from the binary approach to working time, its compatibility with the Revised European Social Charter, and the role of collective bargaining in defining this concept. It further examines the degree of discretion available to the Portuguese legislature in this area.

The dissertation is available here.