MEPs vote against working week exemption

07/11/2008

Labour MEPs have gone against Gordon Brown in voting that Britain should not be exempt from the Working Time Directive.

The directive aims to ensure that employees work for a limit of 48 hours a week but business groups say this will decrease flexibility.

Government have supported the opt-out for Britain but Labour MEPs were among the 35 who voted in favour of scrapping the exemption from the employment rights law.

Alistair Tebbit, head of EU and employment policy at the Institute of Directors, said: "MEPs have made a big mistake by voting in favour for abolition of the opt-out from a maximum 48-hour week. As the EU enters recession, employers need more flexibility, not less.

"If the opt-out goes it would become much harder for businesses to adjust the working hours of employees to meet changes in trading conditions.

"These new restrictions would impact on business performance and ultimately destroy jobs. This is the last thing the economy needs as businesses try to cope with the downturn."

A final decision will be made next month when the issue is debated in the European Parliament.

< Back to News Listing