EU debates working hours changes

[Henk Elegeert]

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3677804.stm
  EU debates working hours changes

"
  EU debates working hours changes
The European Commission is to discuss changes to the EU's
Working Time Directive on Wednesday as it tries to limit the
time employees spend at work.

On the table will be plans that would curtail the ability of
member states, including the UK, to opt out of the 48-hour
maximum working week.

Business leaders in the UK have already criticised the move,
saying it will increase bureaucracy and hit output.

Trade unions, on the other hand, argue that the moves do not
go far enough.

Individual choice

Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of
British Industry, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it
should be up to individuals to decide what hours they worked.

"If somebody wants to work longer hours to a limit, whatever
it may be, it should be their individual choice."

"For a trade union in Britain to have the right to tell an
individual how many hours they work is frankly harking back
to another age."

Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, said it was
"unacceptable" that some workers were being told that they
would only be given jobs if they agreed to the opt-out.

"Collective agreements would at least provide some
protection against that kind of arbitrary employer pressure."


'Dismal performance'

He said there was no sign that average working hours in
Britain were coming down.

"We are working just about the longest hours in Europe and
yet our productivity performance is dismal."

The Commission is unwilling to discuss the proposals, but
said that it is aiming to strengthen a worker's right to
choose, as well as reinforce their ability to negotiate with
employers.

It added that nothing as yet has been agreed.

Britain's TUC trade union federation, however, says that it
has seen a draft copy of the plan.

According to the union, the Commission is considering
changing how it calculates the average number of hours
worked, extending the period covered to 12 months rather
than the current four.

It is also mulling over whether to give unions, or other
representative bodies, the power to agree collective
opt-outs. Individuals would still have the power to decide
on their own irrespective of the group decision.

Should a worker opt out, he or she would not be allowed to
work more than 65 hours in any one week and would have to
renew the opt-out every 12 months.

Employers, meanwhile, would not be able to ask employees to
sign an opt-out before they start work or during probation
periods.

Opposition

The UK government already has complained that the current
legislation is costing British businesses billions of pounds
every year, a sentiment that is echoed by groups such as the
UK employers' organisation, the CBI.

The concern is that by further limiting the ability of
companies and employees to work for longer, the labour
market is likely to become less flexible and may hamper growth.

In a letter to the commission, the TUC has warned that UK
workers were going to be left exposed to dangerously long
working hours.

The union estimates that nearly four million UK employees
are regularly working over 48 hours a week, about 15% of the
total workforce.

Unless action is taken, Mr Barber said, the UK will only cut
its working hours to European levels in 45 years' time.

And that, the union argues, will have a far more damaging
effect on productivity.

The commission seems to agree that longer hours does not
necessarily mean that higher output, with a spokeswoman
saying health and safety concerns are at the heart of the
proposed changes.

The commission will hold a press conference at 1015 GMT on
Wednesday to announce its decision.

Any proposals will need to be voted on by the European
Parliament before they are come into force.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3677804.stm
"


"
        If somebody wants to work longer hours, it should be their
individual choice
Digby Jones, CBI
"

"
        We are working just about the longest hours in Europe and
yet our productivity performance is dismal
Brendan Barber, TUC
"

LONG HOURS CULTURE?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/business_working_hours/html/1.stm

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