EU’s Working Time Directive review must not make it harder for people to work

The European Commission’s review of the Working Time Directive should start from the assumption that people should be free to choose their working hours, East Midlands Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin, said today.


The Commission has launched a review of EU rules on Working Time and has requested the views of workers’ and employers’ representatives. The previous attempt at reviewing the directive stalled last year after Socialist MEPs – led by British Labour MEPs – remained determined to scrap the ability of British workers to opt-out of the 48-hour week limit. Fortunately, national governments and Conservative MEPs were able to cause the review to fall, leaving the UK opt-out intact.


However, the directive still needs a revision to clarify issues such as on-call time, following European Court of Justice judgments and local MEP Emma McClarkin has said that Labour MEPs are likely to once again side with the trade union interest to undermine the national interest. 


Emma McClarkin comments:


”This review should start from the position that people know better than politicians how to run their lives. It should not be for Brussels to stop people from working at any time, but especially not during these tough times.


”In the UK, over three million people choose to opt-out of the Working Time directive. Their voices need to be heard.


”We rely on the opt-out to keep the costs of public services down. Services like retained fire-fighters and care homes would be hit hard if working time restrictions are brought in.


”Once again this review will open the door for Labour MEPs, who are in the pockets of trade unions, to undermine our opt-out. It is time Labour MEPs supported the national interest and not the union interest.”