Employers may lose ‘opt-out’ under working time rules

According to a draft document from the European Commission's Employment and Social Affairs Directorate, seen by the Financial Times, the 'opt-out' of the European Union Working Time Directive may be phased out. UK business leaders are likely to be dismayed at the prospect of a tighter Directive - with no opt-out clause they will not be allowed to require workers to work more than 48 hours a week.