Social Sustainability
Working Hours Standards
Definition
Working hours standards are rules limiting daily and weekly working time and guaranteeing rest, rooted in the ILO's first convention, the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1), which set the eight-hour day and 48-hour week, alongside conventions on weekly rest and night work.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Working Hours Standards” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
Labour inspectorates enforce national limits; social compliance audits check time records against standard caps; the EU Working Time Directive sets maximum weekly hours and minimum rest; ESG social metrics flag excessive-hours findings.
Why it matters
Working time was the first subject of international labour regulation and remains a frontline indicator of decent work, directly affecting health, safety and family life.