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Originally posted by Joff
Vote Labour...

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EU mulls ending Britain's long hours culture

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Parliament may seek to impose a maximum 48-hour working week in Britain, ending the country's fiercely guarded opt-out from European Union law, deputies said on Tuesday.

The EU assembly votes on Wednesday on revising the working time directive that limits how many hours a week people can work across the 25-nation bloc.

Spanish Socialist deputy Alejandro Cercas wants the opt-out -- under which governments can allow firms to ignore the maximum 48-hour working week -- to be phased out over three years.

"The opt-out flagrantly runs counter to the very goals of the directive -- health and safety of workers," said Cercas, author of the report in Parliament.

"It runs counter to the (EU) constitutional treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights."

The constitution, agreed by EU leaders last year, has yet to be ratified by all 25 member states, and the charter, which is incorporated in that treaty, does not create new legally enforceable rights in member states.

The Spanish deputy said a vote to scrap the opt-out would help allay French concerns over firms moving to low-cost countries in eastern Europe with lighter social rules.

Those concerns are threatening to derail the approval of the EU constitution in a French referendum on May 29.

British Liberal Democrat deputy Chris Davies condemned the move to impose maximum working hours saying it would sink attempts to revive stagnant economic growth in Europe.

"Blanket controls imposed in every country by Brussels will limit the freedom of member states to decide the approach most appropriate for them," he said. "It's excessive and wrong."

The European People's Party, the conservative group which is the largest political force in parliament, holds the key to whether the bid to scrap the opt-out will be successful but has yet to decide how it will vote.

The centrist Liberals are opposed to ending the exemption while the Socialists, Communists and Greens are in favour.

Britain makes the most use of the opt-out and wants it maintained.

The EU executive Commission, author of the draft proposal, also wants to keep the opt-out, though with tighter rules governing its use. It wants to avoid a showdown with deputies.

"The Commission can't accept this (scrapping the opt-out)," said EU Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla. "We are willing to engage in discussions with parliament to find some compromise."

If parliament votes to scrap the opt-out, Britain would have to build a blocking minority among EU governments in the EU Council, which will have a final say on the issue.

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Originally posted by Tiger

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EU mulls ending Britain's long hours culture

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Parliament may seek to impose a maximum 48-hour working week in Britain, ending the country's fiercely guarded opt-out from European Union law, deputies said on Tuesday.

The EU assembly votes on Wednesday on revising the working time directive that limits how many hours a week people can work across the 25-nation bloc.

Spanish Socialist deputy Alejandro Cercas wants the opt-out -- under which governments can allow firms to ignore the maximum 48-hour working week -- to be phased out over three years.

"The opt-out flagrantly runs counter to the very goals of the directive -- health and safety of workers," said Cercas, author of the report in Parliament.

"It runs counter to the (EU) constitutional treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights."

The constitution, agreed by EU leaders last year, has yet to be ratified by all 25 member states, and the charter, which is incorporated in that treaty, does not create new legally enforceable rights in member states.

The Spanish deputy said a vote to scrap the opt-out would help allay French concerns over firms moving to low-cost countries in eastern Europe with lighter social rules.

Those concerns are threatening to derail the approval of the EU constitution in a French referendum on May 29.

British Liberal Democrat deputy Chris Davies condemned the move to impose maximum working hours saying it would sink attempts to revive stagnant economic growth in Europe.

"Blanket controls imposed in every country by Brussels will limit the freedom of member states to decide the approach most appropriate for them," he said. "It's excessive and wrong."

The European People's Party, the conservative group which is the largest political force in parliament, holds the key to whether the bid to scrap the opt-out will be successful but has yet to decide how it will vote.

The centrist Liberals are opposed to ending the exemption while the Socialists, Communists and Greens are in favour.

Britain makes the most use of the opt-out and wants it maintained.

The EU executive Commission, author of the draft proposal, also wants to keep the opt-out, though with tighter rules governing its use. It wants to avoid a showdown with deputies.

"The Commission can't accept this (scrapping the opt-out)," said EU Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla. "We are willing to engage in discussions with parliament to find some compromise."

If parliament votes to scrap the opt-out, Britain would have to build a blocking minority among EU governments in the EU Council, which will have a final say on the issue.

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Originally posted by Greg_M
the 48 hour working week has been inplace for years already, you can choose for it not to apply for you in contract

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Originally posted by topshot_2k
give a big thanks to the labour voters "noobs"

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Originally posted by MatG
I am self employed I dont know how they think they can inforce this on people like me, I work 7 days a week and long hours, but I would rather do that than work for someone else.

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