The directive allows statutory rights in respect of annual leave and weekly rest.
Members of the Defence Forces will now come under the Working Time Directive for the first time.
It means soldiers and others will now have statutory rights in respect of daily breaks, weekly rest, maximum working times and annual leave.
Ireland had originally excluded the Defence Forces due to the specific nature of their line of work.
The move to remove the exception has been welcomed by representative group RACO.
General Secretary Lt Col Conor King, from Athlone, says this will help with the recruitment and retention crisis currently plaguing the Forces:
Man Arrested Over Attempted Vehicle Break-In In Offaly
Midlands Under Status Orange Wind Warning For Storm Éowyn
New Housing Development In Westmeath Approved
Cabinet Hopefuls Set To Learn Their Fate Today
Extensive Natural Habitat Survey Taking Place In Offaly
Westmeath Among Counties To Recieve €700,000 Traveller health Funding
Westmeath TD's Main Concern Is Families Affected By Company's Redundancy
Midlands MEP Calls For Investigation Of Meta's New Rules
American Woman Enlists FBI Source To Track Down Midlands Family
Independent TDs Cannot Play Both Sides - Brian Stanley
Laois, Offaly, And Westmeath Come Under Yellow Fog Warning Tonight
Possible Disruption To Traffic Following Crash In Westmeath
Over €300k Worth Of Contraband Seized In The Midlands, Dublin And Rosslare
Possibility Of Another Storm Hitting This Weekend
Irish Rural Link Pays Tribute To Meals On Wheels Service
Lack Of Supply Pushing Beef Prices Up - IFA Livestock Chair
Calls For More EU Funding To Combat Animal Disease On Irish Farms
"Hero" Offaly Dog Saves Walker's Life
Westmeath Gym Owner Jailed For Two Years And Four Months For Sexual Assault