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London's workers deserve flexibility and fair play in working time
February 12, 2004 12:00 AM
European Liberal Democrat MEPs argued this week for the maintenance of the provision for voluntary opt-out by UK employees from the EU Working Time Directive, but the failure of the Tories to swing their Continental political allies meant the non-binding vote went in favour of ending it.
London's LibDem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford said after the closely-fought vote:
"Scrapping the voluntary opt-out from the Working Time Directive is not a good idea. Workers who want to increase their pay by working overtime should be allowed to do so, and some businesses are also dependent on more flexible working time."
"But it is vital that the opt-out by an individual employee is truly voluntary and not exploitative, with adequate provision against pressure from the employer, and there must be appropriate payment for extra hours worked."
"Those British Tories who joined us in opposing this measure showed their limitations by being unable to carry the full support of their allies in the European Parliament. Hardly an auspicious start to Michael Howard's realignment with the European centre-right."
Concerning rulings by the European Court of Justice that doctors on call should be bound by working time limits, Baroness Ludford said:
"Limits do need to be set on the working time of people who have other people's lives in their care. But the European Commission needs to find specific solutions in the healthcare field. The impact of the Court rulings would also affect catering, fire brigades and security guards, where allowing longer hours may be reasonable."
"Liberal Democrat MEPs will continue to defend a British employee's genuine right to choose, but also their right to be protected from abuse."
Note: The report adopted by Parliament is in response to a consultation launched by the Commission on whether or not to allow individual workers the right to opt-out from the maximum average 48 hour week, and on how to solve the problems relating to two Court of Justice rulings on working time for doctors on call.
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