Victory for common sense on 48 hour work week
Victory for common sense on 48 hour work week
Unions have welcomed a European Parliament vote to scrap an opt-out rule limiting the working week in the EU to an average of 48 hours. The right to opt-out could come to an end over a three-year period. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said too many employers had abused the opt-out clause, adding: 'This is a victory for a common sense compromise on the 48 hour working week. If implemented it would mean that employers would have to accept that staff could no longer work more than 48 hours a week on average, but unions would have to concede that the average would be calculated over 12 months, not the current 17 weeks. This would mean nearly two million UK workers who currently work more than 48 hours over a 17 week period would fall below the limit, and only the two million workers putting in extremely long hours all year round will be affected.' Barber added: 'Working more than 48 hours week in, week out, year in, year out is undoubtedly bad for health and productivity. Tired workers are more likely to have accidents and to suffer illness.' The proposed changes to the Working Time Directive, a health and safety measure, will now need to be approved by the Council of Ministers. The UK government says it will work with other governments in a bid to block the move.
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