Euro MPs have voted in favour of ending the UK's opt-out from laws limiting the working week to 48 hours. The vote puts the EU on a collision course with the UK Government, which is determined to keep the opt-out. If the EU manages to persuade them to abide by the wishes of MEPs the opt-out would be scrapped for UK workers in three years time.
Thousands of trade union members marched on the European Parliament to urge an end to the opt-out, ahead of the vote and leaders of the UK's biggest union, Unite, urged MEPs to "stop the UK's long hours culture." Further, the TUC claim that ending the UK's individual opt-out from Europe's limit of 48 hours on the average working week will cause business little difficulty. It also believes that ending the opt-out will improve the health and safety of long-hours workers and reduce the victims of accidents caused by overtired and stressed workers.
The TUC state the UK is still the long-hours capital of Europe, with one in eight workers regularly working more than 48 hours a week. Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary said the impact on business of ending the opt-out is much exaggerated. He commented, "Many workers only work a few hours over the limit and employers would get plenty of time to adjust. But it would make a difference to hard-pressed staff. Long working hours makes people ill and it is no surprise that most long-hours workers want to reduce their hours, relieving the pressure on their families."
However, business minister Pat McFadden said it would be a mistake to end the opt-out during an economic downturn when people might need to work extra hours. Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP, concurred, "Scrapping the opt-out would be a bitter pill to swallow for businesses and many hard working people who want to boost their earnings in difficult economic times."
