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date: 10 June 2008

embargo: immediate

EU agreement - good news for agency workers and progress on working time, says TUC

Commenting on the outcome of the EU's Social Affairs Council, which reached agreement on an Agency Working Directive and changes to the Working Time Directive, TUC Midlands Regional Secretary Roger McKenzie said:

'This adds up to good news for people at work in the UK. The agreement on agency work is a major step forward in delivering a fair deal at work for UK agency workers and a real breakthrough on an issue that has been stalled at EU level for many years.

'While we are disappointed that the UK opt-out on the 48 hour working week remains, there has been real progress on other working time issues.

'Employers will no longer be able to put pressure on staff to sign away their working time protection for four weeks, there will be an absolute limit of a 60 hour average week for most of the workforce - affecting more than 400,000 workers - and a universal right to request flexible working. All these measures have been opposed by employer lobby groups.

'Nor has the UK Government won a permanent opt-out, despite its energetic campaign. The opt-out will be reviewed again in the future.

'While there will need to be detailed negotiations, and attention to the small print, the EU has once again proved an important route to better working conditions and employment rights.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Roger McKenzie, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07879 497 291; E: rmckenzie@tuc.org.uk;

Alan Weaver, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07771 778 694; E: aweaver@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 11 Jun 2008