Working time amendments ‘misguided’, says CBI

5 November 2008

The CBI is urging MEPs to reject amendments to the Working Times Directive that would prevent employees from choosing to work more than 48 hours a week.

At the moment, the UK has an opt-out from the Directive that allows employees to agree to work longer than 48 hours a week.

However, amendments tabled by Alejandro Cercas, an MEP in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, and due to be voted on by the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, would remove the opt-out, the CBI has said.

The changes to the Directive, if voted through, would have an adverse effect on both employers and employees, the CBI argued.

They would prevent employees making their own decision to work more than 48 hours a week and force people already working over 48 hours a week to cut back their hours, potentially hitting their wages.

The amendments would also stop businesses from responding effectively to fluctuating demand as staff could be unable to service unexpected new business by working extra hours.

The CBI went on to point out that, according to the 4th European Working Conditions Survey 2007, some 85 per cent of UK employees say their working hours for family and social commitments function well or very well.

Back in June, employment ministers from the member states chose to retain the opt-out as part of the Working Time Directive, while introducing a number of safeguards to ensure that employees cannot be forced to work longer hours.

At the meeting, the Working Time and Agency Work Directives were agreed as a package. The Agency Work Directive has already been approved by the European Parliament, and the CBI believes that MEPs must respect the June deal and vote out the amendments to the Working Time Directive.

John Cridland, the CBI's deputy director general, said: "Some people want to work longer hours, some people don't. The opt-out gives them a choice.

"These proposed amendments are misguided. In hard times, somebody may want to work extra hours to help support their family. Staff in a company that's fighting for survival may choose to work longer hours.

"We think people can look at their own circumstances and decide if they want to work longer hours. We call this common sense, and it doesn't need amending by Brussels."