Hours were already falling before the EU directive was introduced
Average weekly hours of full-time UK workers
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
35
36
36
37
37
38
38
39
39
40
40
41
41
42
42
Average weekly hours of full time workers - spliced series
Working Time Directive implemented