Case C‑175/16

Hannele Hälvä and Others

v

SOS-Lapsikylä ry

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Korkein oikeus)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 2003/88/EC — Article 17 — Protection of the safety and health of workers — Organisation of working time — Additional payments — Child protection association — ‘Children’s village parents’ — Temporary absence of ‘foster parents’ — Workers employed as ‘relief parents’ — Definition)

Summary — Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber), 26 July 2017

1.        Social policy — Protection of the safety and health of workers — Directive 2003/88 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time — Scope — Remuneration — Not included

(European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/88)

2.        Social policy — Protection of the safety and health of workers — Directive 2003/88 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time — Working time — Concept

(European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/88, Art. 2(1))

3.        Social policy — Protection of the safety and health of workers — Directive 2003/88 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time — Exceptions — Article 17(1) — Family workers — Concept

(European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/88, Art. 17(1)(b))

4.        Social policy — Protection of the safety and health of workers — Directive 2003/88 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time — Exceptions — Article 17(1) — Scope – Paid employment consisting in caring for children in a family-like setting, relieving the person principally responsible for them — Included — Conditions — Duration of the working time not measured and/or predetermined or which may be determined by the workers themselves — Verification by the national court

(European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/88, Art. 17(1))

1.      See the text of the decision.

(see para. 25)

2.      See the text of the decision.

(see paras 41, 42)

3.      See the text of the decision.

(see paras 46-48)

4.      Article 17(1) of 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 must be interpreted as meaning that it cannot apply to paid work, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which consists in caring for children in a family-like environment, relieving the person principally responsible for that task, where it is not established that the working time as a whole is not measured or predetermined or it may be determined by the worker himself, which is for the national court to ascertain.

(see para. 49, operative part)