IRISH PEOPLE are working longer hours and getting fewer holidays, according to a new report on the difference in working times between eastern and western European countries.
The report published yesterday by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) showed that, in 2007, the average working time in Ireland was 38.9 hours per week compared to the collectively agreed working time average of 37 hours.
The report, which looks at working time agreements set by collective bargaining in the EU at large, also found that the average paid annual leave entitlement for Irish workers stood at 20 days compared to 25.2 days across Europe.
The average working time, covering 75 per cent of the EU labour force, stands at 38.6 hours. But there is a substantial gap between the former EU 15 member states and the new member states.