European Parliament and Council of Ministers to clash over EU Working Time Rules (Walsall Liberal Democrats)

Walsall Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

European Parliament and Council of Ministers to clash over EU Working Time Rules

March 11, 2009 11:26 AM

Euro MPs and the representatives of EU Member States are set to cross swords on EU working time rules in a formal conciliation committee meeting this Wednesday in the European Parliament in Brussels.

The discussions come following a vote by the European Parliament in favour of proposals to scrap the opt-out from the 48 hour limit European Working Time Directive, currently being used by 15 Member States including the UK.

Lib Dem Liz Lynne MEP, who is Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the only UK shadow rapporteur for the Working Time Directive for any political party, on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe Group, has campaigned for years to keep the opt out and said today:

"I have always argued that the opt out of the 48hour limit in the Working Time Directive should be retained so long as it is truly voluntary. Workers should be allowed to earn overtime if they wish to.

"Scrapping the opt would push people into illegal work where they are not be covered by Health and Safety legislation including the dangerous machinery directive."

"For months now the Government has had to work with me on this as they couldn't get the support of their own MEPs; let us hope that the Government will hold firm and maintain this opt out in what promises to be tough negotiations between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Wednesday's conciliation meeting will be the second meeting under the conciliation process, whereby the Parliament and the Council of Ministers has 6 weeks to reach an agreement on a revised text of the current working time directive.

Liz Lynne MEP is Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament.