The European Parliament reportedly has voted to scrap Britain’s fiercely guarded opt-out from the EU’s 48-hour maximum work week, reopening a long-running ideological battle with the British government.
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Reuters said the European Union legislature voted by 378 to 262 with 15 abstentions to phase out over 36 months a provision under which governments can allow firms to ignore the limit – a coalition of Socialist, Communist, Greens and Christian Democratic lawmakers voted to tighten the rules on working time in the name of health and safety, endorsing a report by Spanish Socialist Alejandro Cercas that said the opt-out had led to abuses.
According to the report, Britain voiced dismay but said the vote was only a stage in a complex legislative process and the proposals would now go back to the executive European Commission for revision.
Reuters noted that member states must approve a final version of the legislation by qualified majority in the EU Council, where Britain will need to put together a blocking minority of several countries if it is to preserve its opt-out – it hopes for support from some eastern European countries.
The report cited the Trades Union Congress as saying something like 3.75 million people in Britain work more than 48 hours a week and that it wants the opt-out abolished.
The automotive industry will be affected: Reuters said truck drivers and many in managerial jobs are among those who work the longest hours.
Business groups such as the Confederation of British Industry say abolition would be an economic disaster, Reuters added.
