Euro-MPs back tighter work hours
May 11, 2005
The European Parliament has voted to scrap an opt-out rule limiting the working week in the EU to an average of 48 hours.
The right to opt out could come to an end over a three-year period.
Unions backed the decision as a victory for UK employees but business groups said freedom of choice would suffer.
The proposed changes to the Working Time Directive on health and safety grounds still need to be approved by the Council of Ministers.
Under the current system - used more in the UK than elsewhere - individuals can opt out if they want to work longer hours.
The UK's Labour Government had claimed removing the opt-out would reduce business competitiveness.
The Director-General of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones, said he hoped the British government would be able to block efforts to abolish the opt-out.
"This is not just about employers - this is about freedom of choice," he added.
"People who just do five hours a week overtime and use the money for a holiday. All I want to know is who's going to pay them for the money they lose.."
The retention of the opt-out had also been supported by hospitals in Germany, France and Spain and small business groups across the EU.
But the vote saw Labour MEPs oppose the UK government line and side with many Liberals, Socialists, Communists and Greens in supporting the changes.
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