Call to reject revisions on UK work hours

Article reports that Council of European Metal, Engineering and Technology-based Industries (CEEMET), one of Europe’s biggest employers’ organisations, appealed to MEPs, December 2008, to reject proposals that would end Britain’s controversial opt out from European Union rules restricting working hours.

However, the UK's Trades Union Congress (TUC) published a report at the same time showing that the ending of the opt-out would cause business little difficulty. Ending the opt-out would also improve the health and safety of long-hours workers and the victims of accidents caused by overtired and stressed workers.

MEPs were due to vote on the second reading of the proposed revision of the working time directive on the 17 December 2008.

On the 17 December 2008 the European Parliament voted to end the UK’s opt-out from the Working Time Directive by 421 votes to 273.

Open Europe: Press Release, 17.12.08: Open Europe responds to the European Parliament vote to end the opt-out from the EU’s Working Time Directive http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=95

ESO: Background information: MEPs threaten UK opt-out on working week restrictions http://www.europeansources.info/record/meps-threaten-uk-opt-out-on-working-week-restrictions/

CEEMET: Position Paper: Review of the Working Time Directive - October 2005 http://www.ceemet.org/positiondocs/11CEEMET%20WT%202005.doc

Website: Council of European Metal, Engineering and Technology-based Industries (CEEMET) http://www.ceemet.org/

TUC: Press Release, 15.12.08: Ending 48 hour working week opt-out is affordable and good for social stability http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-15747-f0.cfm

BBC News, 17.12.08: UK work time opt-out under threat http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7786825.stm

CBI: Press Release, 16.12.08: CBI comments on EP vote on working time directive opt-out http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/a0bbb98ba6a75279802575210056d07b?OpenDocument

EurActiv, 18.12.08: Parliament gives Working Time opt-outs the red card http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/parliament-gives-working-time-op-news-220922

European Parliament: Press Release, 15.12.08: Parliament debates revision of working time directive ahead of key vote on the opt-out http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/048-44550-350-12-51-908-20081215IPR44549-15-12-2008-2008-true/default_en.htm

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Organisation of working time http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?id=520256

European Parliament: Background, 9.12.08: Revision of the working time directive: state of play http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/background_page/048-44003-343-12-50-908-20081208BKG44002-08-12-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm

TUC: Press Release, 17.12.08: Working time victory i is Christmas come early, says TUC http://www.tuc.org.uk/newsroom/tuc-15761-f0.cfm

CBI: Press Release, 17.12.08: CBI reaction to working time vote http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/d32fcf63c935ade78025752200408c6b?OpenDocument

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