Formal talks have begun in Brussels to determine whether the UK can retain its opt-out of the European Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC, which aims to ensure no employee is obliged to work more than an average of 48 hours a week. The government wants to keep the opt-out, but it has been under threat ever since MEPs voted to scrap it in December.
Labour's leader in Brussels, MEP Glenis Willmott wrote on her blog, "Working more than 48 hours per week on a regular basis can pose significant risks to health. Excessive working time is linked to stress, depression and heart disease. For me it is an important point of principle that exemptions from health and safety law should not be allowed."
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has stated this is a great opportunity to end the UK's so called long hours culture, "Many people feel obliged to work for far longer than they are paid for and that has to stop."
However, such views are at odds with Westminster. Employment relations minister Pat McFadden comments that, "During the current downturn it is more important than ever that people have the right to put more money in their pockets by working longer hours if they wish." Moreover, the Eurosceptic think tank Open Europe estimates losing the opt out could cost the UK economy eight billion pounds a year.
The disagreement has exposed a division between Gordon Brown and a majority of his MEPs. This has led to a deadlock which is why the EU's Conciliation Committee has now stepped in. If the issue is not resolved by May, when the current European Parliament ends, the existing working time rules will remain in force.
Conservative MEP Philip Bushill-Matthews said, "The Labour government must instruct its MEPs to act in the interests of UK and EU workers. Fifteen EU nations now take advantage of the flexibility provided by the opt-out and none of them should back down. Scrapping the opt-out during the downturn is even more nonsensical than before and workers should be able to choose if they want to work longer hours to help pay the bills."
