17 December 2008
Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of ending the UK's opt-out from laws limiting the working week to 48 hours.
The current opt-out of a part of the EU Working Time directive would be scrapped for British workers in three years. But the EU must persuade Britain to abide by the wishes of MEPs and that may not be easy, according to BBC Online.
The UK government determined to keep the opt-out. The majority of Labour MEPs voted by 421 to 273 to end the opt-out in defiance of prime minister Gordon Brown.
Britain will now enter negotiations with the European Council of Ministers to reach a final decision on whether the opt-out will be scrapped early next year.
Gary Titley, leader of Labour's MEPs, who voted to keep the opt-out, said the two sides were so far apart on the issue that the talks would probably end in stalemate and the opt-out would continue. "Continuing with the status quo is the most likely outcome," Titley told BBC News. Unlike many of Labour colleagues he believed maximum working hours should be set at a national level.
Thousands of trade union members marched on the European Parliament to urge an end to the opt-out. Leaders of the UK's biggest union, Unite, urged British MEPs to "stop the UK's long hours culture".
But on Monday Business minister Pat McFadden told the BBC that it would be a mistake to end the opt-out during an economic downturn when people might need to work extra hours.
Banning people from choosing to work more than 48 hours a week is a mistake, and would replace opportunity with obstruction, said John Cridland, deputy director-general of employers’ group CBI.
“In the current downturn, a family might depend on one parent being able to work extra hours if the other loses their job. “Many people want to work longer hours, in professions ranging from manufacturing to medical research. They do so to further their careers or earn extra money, or to help their firm through difficulties. They should be able to do so if they choose.”
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