UK's opt out of the EU 48 hour week scrapped by Socialist MEPs (Stoke On Trent Liberal Democrats)

Stoke On Trent Liberal Democrats <jpr160@tiscali.co.uk>

UK's opt out of the EU 48 hour week scrapped by Socialist MEPs

November 5, 2008 11:19 AM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Liz Lynne MEP. Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, shadow rapporteur on the Working Time Directive for the Liberal and Democrat group in the European Parliament, has today criticised UK Labour MEPs who voted today with Socialist MEPs from other EU Member States to axe the UK's opt out from the Working Time Directive, in the first stage of the Parliament's review of the latest agreement reached by EU Member States.

The UK reached an agreement in June with other Member States whereby Britain would support an agency workers directive, which is due to give temporary workers the same pay as permanent staff after only 12 weeks in a job, in return for being allowed to keep its opt-out from the 48 hour week. But Socialist MEPs have now overturned this deal in the European Parliament.

Liz believes that the end of the opt would harm those who rely on overtime pay to boost their earnings as well as UK businesses and has been a vocal supporter of the UK's opt- out, so long as it is truly voluntary.

Commenting after the vote on Wednesday morning Liz said;

"Today's vote plays politics with people's pockets and runs the risk of sinking the Government's hard won deal to retain the opt out."

"Scrapping the opt out would be a bitter pill to swallow for businesses and many hard working people who are tightening their belts and who want to boost their earnings in difficult economic times."

"Gordon Brown now faces a huge test of his leadership in securing the support of his own Labour MEPs, who have consistently voted to remove the UK's opt out of the 48 hour week."

"The retention of the UK's opt out with more stringent conditions on its use is vital, anyone whose work does not have a direct consequence on life and death decisions should have a free choice as to what hours they work, so long as this is truly voluntary. Workers are already covered by existing health and safety legislation, including the one covering working with dangerous machinery."