"Worst excesses of UK labour practices are set to be exported across the union"
BRITAIN is set to remain Europe's sweatshop after the European Commission agreed the UK could continue to opt-out of the Working Time Directive.
The Commission has today adopted an amendment to the directive allowing general use of the opt-out to continue, on-call time worked by doctors, firefighters and other emergency workers to be excluded from the time they are considered to have worked, and to extend the period before the rules take effect in any new job from four months to a year.
Green Party MEP and Member of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee Jean Lambert said the Commission had 'fudged' the issue with potentially disastrous consequences for health and safety, workers rights and protection of the most vulnerable workers.
Workers in the UK already have the longest working week in the EU, with the longest hours worked by the most vulnerable. This has increased the poverty gap, ill-health and social exclusion, according to a report published by Mrs Lambert to coincide with the TUC conference in Brighton earlier this month.
"New Commission proposals attempt to please everyone but serve no-one. We want to see standards that uphold health and safety, workers rights and in particular, protection of the most vulnerable," said Mrs Lambert.
"Workers in the UK need the protection the Working Time Directive offers - and by agreeing to extend the opt-out today the European Commission has dealt workers' rights and the 'Social Europe' agenda a severe blow.
"The worst excesses of the UK are set to be exported across the union and, yet again we will see so-called 'flexible' working arrangements benefiting employers at the expense of their staff."
The 1993 Working Time Directive was intended to provide basic protection for most workers except managers. It gives workers the right to a daily rest period of 11 hours, breaks during working hours, a maximum 48 hour working week and 4 weeks minimum annual holiday.
The UK under Margaret Thatcher negotiated a general opt-out, which allowed any employee to voluntarily waive their right to a 48 hour week.
In reality, many employees are effectively - and illegally - forced to sign away their rights under the directive during the recruitment process, including many low paid and temporary jobs.
Mrs Lambert added: "Under pressure from a Labour government that is wedded to maintaining Thatcherite anti-union working rules, the Commission has today decided to uphold Britain's right to remain the EU's sweatshop."
ENDS
Note to Editors Copies of Jean's recent report 'Flexible Working: A Work-Life Balance or a Balancing Act' is available on request from Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk
23rd Sep 2004