05/11/2008  Employment Committee calls time on excessive working hours

Commenting on today's European Parliament Employment Committee second reading vote on the proposed Working Time Directive, Jean Lambert, Green MEP and member of the committee, said:

"I am very pleased that MEPs have today shown their commitment to ending opt-outs from the Working Time Directive, meaning there would be no exception for the UK, which has been pressing for an indefinite opt-out to an average 48 hour working week.

"Claims from the business lobby and the UK Government that people want to work long hours to earn more money are flawed. Many people are not paid for overtime and those that do work longer to earn more may be compensating for a low level of basic pay. That is why it is crucial that all workers are paid a decent living wage.

"This legislation is flexible enough to allow for intensive periods of work, while ensuring that workers are not placed under continuous excessive pressure. It is important to remember that this is first and foremost health and safety legislation. Research has shown that long working hours affect workers' physical and mental health and increase accident rates.

"Committee members have also crucially supported the principle that on-call time is working time and they have made clear that temporary workers should not be expected to work under different conditions to permanent workers.

"I hope that the Parliament will take the same line as the members of this committee when all MEPs vote in December."

Notes

1. Second reading vote results on the Working Time Directive were 35 in favour, 13 against and 1 abstention.

2. Jean Lambert's report I Must Work Harder? on Britain and the Working Time Directive can be found at http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/DocumentStore/I_Must_Work_Harder.pdf

 

News type: Press Releases