UK Keeps Working Time Directive Opt-Out

As predicted, the UK has succeded in once again successfully defending the opt-out clause in the working Time Directive. Once again the CBI's argument about a flexible workforce and the rejection of any concern for the health and safety of UK workers has been totally accepted by the UK Government.

Not only are UK workers coerced into working through their lunch breaks, working for nothing, but they are forced in most cases to work long hours due to low pay levels and pressure from employers.

The collapse of the talks on the EU Working Time Directive this week sees the end of the European Parliament's proposal to phase out the opt-out in three years. The UK has consistently held firm against this proposal.

A conciliation meeting in Brussels between the Member States, European Parliament and the European Commission was unable to resolve the long-standing differences between the European Parliament and member states over whether to retain the opt-out or not. With the deadline for reaching an agreement rapidly approaching, and the differences between the parties too great, it was agreed there was no value in continuing the negotiations any further.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

"We are disappointed that another opportunity has been missed to end the UK's dangerous long hours culture.

Long hours cause stress, illness and lowers productivity. And when many employers are moving to short-time working, the need for an opt-out of the 48 hour week is even more out of date.

The UK Government still needs to tighten the law on working time, otherwise the EU could take it to court in order to protect UK workers from abuse of the 48 hour week."

Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden said:

"We refused to be pushed into a bad deal for Britain. We have said consistently that we will not give up the opt-out and we have delivered on that pledge. Everyone has the right to basic protections surrounding the hours that they work, but it is also important that they have the right to choose those hours.

"In the UK and many other Member States, choice over working hours has operated successfully for many years. The current economic climate makes it more important than ever that people continue to have the right to put more money in their pockets by working longer hours if they choose to do so."

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:

"Millions of people are better off because of the opt-out and I am relieved we have been able to resist its removal."

The dossier in its current form will formally fall when the conciliation timetable reaches its conclusion in May. It will then be for the European Commission to decide how to proceed.

The UK has the worst record of work related stress in all of the European countries, has the longest working hours, less holidays and less days off sick - according to official figures.

However, in listening to the CBI the Government clearly believes the age old cry from employers that UK workers are lazy, more inclined to take 'sickies' and health and safety and workers rights are 'red tape' costing business billions of pounds annually.

Derek Maylor, Chair of the NW BTU H&S Co-ord said,

"Rather than concentrating on the removal of the opt-out, it seems we now need to educate the workforce as to their rights and put pressure on the government to ensure flouting of the law by majority of businesses not allowing their staff to sign opt-out forms voluntarily and being prosecuted; is one way forward to try and address this issue of UK's long hours culture and the stress levels and ill health which results."

Source: TUC / GNN

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