Weekend working (WoL, V2)
| Quick info | |
|---|---|
| Data type | Numeric |
| Scale | Metric |
| Value labels | not applicable |
| Technical name | labor_time_we_premia |
| Category | Labour and labour market |
| Label | Weekend working |
| Related indicators | |
Measures the normal premium for weekend working set by statutory law.
The opportunity for rest provided by weekly days off serves to reproduce one's ability to work and for recreation. The weekend off is particularly important in this regard, as it also serves to protect the family, promote cultural participation, and allow for personal development. The issue under investigation is how strictly the law defines the weekend as time off from work. In the case of particularly high overtime pay and an absolute ban on working, the use of employees during the weekend is particularly unattractive for the employer, due to the high additional financial burden.
This variable is originally taken and slightly altered from the CBR Labour Regulation Index Dataset (‘CBR-LRI’), which provides data on labour laws in 117 countries for the period from (in most cases) 1970 to 2022, except for post-socialist countries (see Adams et al. 2017, 2023). The existing CBR-LRI data points were checked and, if values differed, modified according to the WoL coding rules, and supplemented with data points prior to 1970 or corresponding points in time for former Soviet bloc countries (see Fechner/Carlino 2025). Next to the 115 countries with more than 500.000 inhabitants coded by CBR-LRI, a further 37 countries were added (see Fechner/Carlino 2025). Core differences concerning the original CBR-LRI data:
- The CBR Labour Regulation Index Dataset was coded using provisions of law, collective agreements (if generally binding or containing national standards) and relevant court decisions, which are taken from secondary sources, national law databases, and ILO NATLEX data (see Adams et al. 2017, 2023). WoL only codes statutory law, so results including collective agreements and court decisions defining entitlements were modified.
Coding rules
The score equals 1 if the normal premium is double time, 0.5 if it is time and a half, and 0 if there is no premium. Also score 1 if weekend working is strictly controlled or prohibited.
For detailed coding rules, please consult Fechner/Carlino 2025.
Bibliographic info
Citation: Fechner, Heiner and Marina Carlino (2025). Worlds of Labour (WoL) Leximetric Dataset. University of Bremen.
Related publications: Adams, Zoe, Bhumika Billa, Louise Bishop, Simon Deakin and Tvisha Shroff (2023). CBR Labour Regulation Index (Dataset of 117 Countries, 1970-2022) - Codes and Sources. Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge. at: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.9130.2
Carlino, Marina, Fechner, Heiner, and Schäfer, Andrea (2025). Using leximetrics for coding legal segmentation in employment law: The development and potential of the Worlds of Labour database. In I. Dingeldey, H. Fechner, & U. Mückenberger (Eds.), Constructing Worlds of Labour. Coverage and Generosity of Labour Law as Outcomes of Regulatory Social Policy. Palgrave Macmillan. pp.53-83
Deakin, Simon, Johna Armour and Mathias Siems (2023). CBR Leximetric Datasets [Updated 2023]. Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.9130.2
Dingeldey, Irene, Heiner Fechner, Jean-Yves Gerlitz, Jenny Hahs, Ulrich Mückenberger, Worlds of Labour: Introducing the Standard-Setting, Privileging and Equalising Typology as a Measure of Legal Segmentation in Labour Law, Industrial Law Journal, Volume 51, Issue 3, September 2022, Pages 560–597, https://doi.org/10.1093/indlaw/dwab016
Fechner, Heiner, and Marina Carlino (2025). Coding Legal Segmentation in Employment Law. The Worlds of Labour (WoL) Dataset. SFB 1342 Technical Paper Series, 22. Bremen: SFB 1342. https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/4191
Misc
Project manager(s): Responsible for data coding: Heiner Fechner (2018-2025), Marina Carlino (2022-2025).
Responsible for data editing, description (WESIS) and entry: Heiner Fechner (2025), Andrea Schäfer (2021-2025), Jenny Hahs (2018-21), Jean-Yves Gerlitz (2018-20).
Principal Investigators: Irene Dingeldey, Ulrich Mückenberger.
Student assistants (alphabetical ordering): Max Anders, Julia Bode, Jessica Bonn, Daniel Euler, Jan-Christopher Floren, Maxime Fischer, Jennifer Götte, Eliko Hagen, Désirée Hoppe, Irina Kyburz, Alexandra Kojnow, Tarek Mahmalat, Karolin Meyer, Oguz Mermut, Johanna Nold, Tanusha Pali, Gerrit Pantel, Johannes Ramsauer, Max Sudhoff, Kristina Walter, Caroline Zambiasi.
Data release: Version 0.001: Initial release December 2025.
Revisions: No revisions yet.
This is the first version of the dataset of the thoroughly revised Version 2 WoL template; for the first time, all variables including those originally stemming from CBR-LRI have been coded/revised under WoL criteria. A preliminary version with compiled data (CBR-LRI and WoL) has been published in WeSIS marked by "CBR-LRI-based" and "WoL, V1".
Sources
Own coding, partially based on coding by CBR-LRI.
Fechner, Heiner, and Marina Carlino (2025). Coding Legal Segmentation in Employment Law. The Worlds of Labour (WoL) Dataset. SFB 1342 Technical Paper Series, 22. Bremen: SFB 1342. https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/4191
Partially identical (after revision by WoL) with the original CBR-LRI coding, to be found in:
Deakin, Simon, Johna Armour and Mathias Siems (2023). CBR Leximetric Datasets [Updated 2023]. Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.9130.2
