The EC has presented four possible approaches to EU social partners in an attempt to calm the debate about Britain keeping its right to opt out of the 48-hour week.
The European Commission has attempted to pacify UK business fears over the 48-hour working week by proposing four approaches to improving use of the opt-out.

The four approaches proposed are:

  • to tighten conditions under which individual workers can opt out of the 48-hour limit;
  • to allow derogations from the limit on the basis of collective agreements between employers and employees;
  • to retain the possibility of an individual opt-out in cases where no collective agreement is reached;
  • the gradual removal of the opt-out altogether, although this likely to be judged unacceptable by the UK government.

The four approaches have been presented to the EU’s social partners – employers’ federations and trade unions. It is expected that they will report back by mid-July on whether they believe an agreement can be found.

Stavros Dimas, the EU’s employment commissioner, hopes to encourage the Union’s social partners to come to an agreement among themselves without requiring the commission to act as the final arbiter. He commented: “We should improve the Directive but we should also choose a solution that strengthens the competitiveness of our economies.”

Dimas is seen as being more open to arguments for flexibility on the issue than his predecessor, Anna Diamantopoulou, who felt that British companies used the opt-out in a “very abusive” fashion.

British trades unionists remain committed to abolution of the UK opt out. Paul Sellers, an adviser on working time for the Trades Union Congress, said: “It’s important that we get rid of the opt-out. Working excessive hours on a regular basis greatly increases the risk of heart trouble and stress-related illness.”

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor