Britain hangs on to 48-hour opt-out

News | HSP
10.06.2008

EU countries have come to an agreement on the Working Time Directive that will allow Britain to keep its opt-out from the 48-hour maximum working week.

If endorsed by the European Parliament, the compromise deal will end a four-year dispute between member states.

A group of EU countries, initially led by France, had argued that the opt-out should be scrapped, as the 48-hour maximum week protects workers from exploitation and accidents, but Britain vigorously defended its position.

Welcoming the decision to preserve the opt-out, business secretary John Hutton said, "This agreement means that people remain free to earn overtime and business can cope during busy times."

But while the opt-out lives on, the legal ceiling on hours worked per week will be reduced from 79 to between 60 and 65.