UK keeps EU working week opt-out
The UK's opt-out from the European Working Time Directive will remain in place after seeing off attempts by the European Parliament to phase it out.
The opt-out enables UK workers to work more than 48 hours a week. Euro MPs wanted it phased out over three years.
But talks between MEPs, member states and the European Commission failed to reach agreement on how to proceed.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he was "relieved we have been able to resist its removal".
Flexibility
The UK has strenuously defended the opt-out, which 14 other member states are signed up to, for many years.
It argues that workers should be able to choose how many hours they work and flexibility in the workplace boosts the economy.
However, unions say the UK has the longest working hours of any country in Europe, leading to more workplace accidents and hindering rather improving productivity.
Phasing in the changes would allow concerned employers time to adjust, unions have maintained.
MEPs voted in December to end the opt-out - designed to prevent workers from being exploited - within three years.
But the UK and other member states opposed the move and talks in Brussels aimed at finding a solution broke down after it was agreed that the differences were too great.
It will now be up to the European Commission to decide whether to put forward new legislative proposals.
Employment minister Pat McFadden said the opt-out had worked successfully for many years and ending it would have been a "bad deal" for the UK in the midst of a recession.
Unemployment has risen above two million while thousands of employees, particularly in the car industry, have had their working hours reduced in the face of weakening demand.
"Everyone has the right to basic protections surrounding the hours that they work but it is also important that they have the right to choose those hours," he said.
"The current economic climate makes it more important than ever that people continue to have the right to put more money in their pockets by working longer hours if they choose to do so."
'Disappointed'
Deputy director general of the Confederation of British Industry John Cridland said: "We welcome the retention of the opt-out... it allows people to make their own decision about the hours they work. Keeping the opt-out is a victory for common sense and is good for the UK economy."
The European Commission said it was "sorely disappointed" by the failure to reach agreement and would consult on the best way forward.
"The likely outcome is that more - not less - member states will start using the opt-out, not something I want to see happen," said Vladimir Spidla, the EU's Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner.
"And there won't even be more safeguards for workers who do use the opt-out," he added.
The Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, had tried to broker a compromise deal, arguing that the opt-out remained invaluable for many countries.
Its labour minister Petr Necas said MEPs had been "unwilling" to accept that the opt-out offered employers and workers much-needed flexibility in the tough economic climate.
"This is what Europe needs at the time of the economic downturn," he said.
Source : bbc.co.uk Tuesday 28th April 2009
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