The European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee voted today on amendments to the working time directive. The report has, from the outset, been controversial. In previous Parliamentary debates several points including the removal of the 'opt-out', calculation of reference periods, compensatory rest and definitions of 'on-call' time were hotly disputed.

Two key measures were however included in the final report which was accepted by a majority of committee members today. The first sees the removal of the opt-out within 36 months of the report's entry into force. The second tightens up the definition of on call time – now to be classed as 'working time'.

Following the vote today, Greens/EFA coordinator of the Employment Committee Jean Lambert expressed relief at the removal of the opt-out. It was her priority to ensure the speedy removal of this provision. She said:

"The working time directive is ultimately about who controls your life. The opt-out is currently in use in the UK and is meant to represent a voluntary extension to the 48 hour week. However, only one in three employees in the UK even know that a limit on working hours exists. The Green Group is opposed to excessive overtime which can result in poor health, increased absenteeism and a negative impact on the work-life balance. I could not have supported the report if either the opt-out remained or on-call time failed to be re-classified as work time. Thankfully the Employment Committee has recognised the need to provide better legal protection for workers."

As Green MEP for London, Lambert is acutely aware of the need for better working time legislation as a tool to protect workers:

"In the UK, this directive will act a health and safety net for the work-force. Less than 30% of employees in Britain are members of unions and thus a staggering 70% are not covered by collective agreements. Without better working time legislation these workers have no way out of excessive employment hours."

The report will go before plenary in May.