The Court deems that said regulation violates Article 40.2 of the Spanish constitution, which limits work shifts, and Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council dated November 4, 2003 which defines working time as “any period during which the worker is working, at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activity or duties, in accordance with national laws and/or practice”. As specified in the ruling, the third paragraph of the challenged article would be incompatible with the second paragraph of same which also considers time worked “outside of the office for the assistance and defence of clients” as working time. Likewise, according to the adjudicator, the third paragraph of Article 14.1 of Royal Decree 1331/2006 only serves to confuse the matter which is legally unacceptable.
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