2.3.6 Working time and work-life balance

both cases, there are strict deadlines, so reporters will have to receive feedback within 3 months after the receival of their report is confirmed (which has to take place within 7 days).

102. According to article 6, there are some conditions in order to qualify for protection. Reporting persons are protected under this Directive provided that : • “ they had reasonable grounds to believe that the information on breaches reported was true at the time of reporting and that such information fell within the scope of this Directive ; and • they reported either internally or externally in accordance with the correct procedure, or made a public disclosure (if the conditions are fulfilled for this).”53

103. Thanks to this act, reporting persons are protected against all forms of retaliation, such as demotion, dismissal, intimidation or blacklisting. They should also have access to appropriate support measures (such as independent information and advice or legal aid) and remedial measures (such as interim relief or immunity from liability for breaching clauses in their contracts). EU member states must take the necessary measures to ensure this protection and to respect the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial.

2.3.6 Working time and work-life balance

104. The working time restriction in Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (the Working Time Directive) 54 donot apply to civil aviation sector as there are specific minimum standards for working time in this sector organised by Council Directive 2000/79/EC concerning the European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation concluded by the AEA, the ETF, the ECA, the ERA and the IACA.

55

105. Working conditions agreed by the signatory parties and provided by the directive are as follows :

• A maximum annual working time of 2000 hours in which the total flight time is limited to 900 hours (clause 8.2); • A number of 7 days per months and at least 96 days per years free of all service (clause 9); • At least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave (clause 3.1); • A free health assessment before the employees’ assignment and then at regular intervals (clause 4.1 (a)); • Health and safety protection of the employees appropriate to the nature of their work (clause 5.1);

53 Directive 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, art. 6. 54 Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (date of effect : 02/08/2004) 55 Council Directive 2000/79/EC of 27 November 2000 concerning the European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation concluded by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and the International Air Carrier Association (IACA) (date of effect : 01/12/2000)