Parliament axes right to working hours opt-out

Date: 12/05/05

The European Parliament voted yesterday (11 May) to end an individual employee's right to opt out of a maximum 48-hour working week.

The end to the opt-out was approved by 378 votes to 262.

A clash between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers over the revision of the working time directive is now assured. If the Parliament's demand were accepted, the opt-out would be eliminated within three years of the directive coming into effect.

Employment ministers will discuss the working time directive on 3 June. Nine states want the opt-out maintained, including the UK, Germany, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. Sweden, Hungary, France, Finland, Greece, Spain and Belgium argue that the directive should not come into force with the opt-out clause.

The European Parliament voted on 11 May 2005 to end an individual employee's right to opt out of a maximum 48-hour working week. The end to the opt-out was approved by 378 votes to 262. Article says that a clash between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers over the revision of the working time directive was therefore assured.