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MEPs back bid to scrap work opt-out
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Labour MEPs have defied the Government by backing moves to end the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive, which aims to limit the working week to 48 hours.
The employment and social affairs committee of the European Parliament voted to scrap the opt-out, a decision which goes directly against the position of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Labour MEPs were among the 35 who voted in favour, with 13 against ending the opt-out, which was negotiated by the former Conservative administration in 1993.
The issue will now be debated by the European Parliament next month.
Business groups criticised the vote, arguing that workers should be given the option of whether to work longer hours, or overtime.
Alistair Tebbit, head of EU and employment policy at the Institute of Directors, said: "MEPs have made a big mistake by voting in favour for abolition of the opt-out from a maximum 48 hour week. As the EU enters recession, employers need more flexibility, not less.
"If the opt-out goes it would become much harder for businesses to adjust the working hours of employees to meet changes in trading conditions. These new restrictions would impact on business performance and ultimately destroy jobs. This is the last thing the economy needs as businesses try to cope with the downturn.
"We urge the Government to fight for retention of the opt-out with every ounce of effort it can muster."
Unions inflicted a defeat on the Prime Minister at Labour's party conference in September by forcing through a motion calling for an end to the opt-out.
Labour MEP Stephen Hughes, a member of the employment committee and the employment spokesman of the Parliament's Socialist group, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: "We are dealing here with a piece of health and safety legislation. It is wrong in principle to have an opt-out from health and safety law, it's as simple as that."
Reader views (1)
School teachers are exempt from the working time directive. There is no way that all of the work required in a secondary school could be done in 48 hours a week. It's hardly surprising that 18 percent of teachers resign from their jobs each term and 11 percent leave the profession. This seems to indicate that in the core subjects we need more teachers teaching fewer lessons per week.
- Tommy Cockles, ealing England, 05/11/2008 12:13
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