European Union countries have failed again in their long-running efforts to reach agreement on working times for employees. This ensures that the UK’s opt-out to the maximum 48-hour week will remain untouched for the time being.

European MEPs, including many Labour MEPs who went against the wishes of the UK government, had voted to scrap the opt-out but a meeting of EU employment ministers in June failed to ratify the decision.

The UK claims to have won more support for its opposition to calls to end its exclusion from the 48-hour week from 2012. Trade and Industry secretary Alan Johnson said that there had been a sea change of opinion, with the UK’s stand receiving growing support.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, the UK’s biggest union, said: “It is appalling that our government should be persisting with the opt-out. We already work the longest hours in Europe and if other countries could manage on these hours, why should UK workers be singled out for this different treatment.”

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor