The "threat" of EU Regulation (continued)

Following the publication of the CBI/Pertemps survey of the effect of European directives on employers, the TUC has published findings from its own survey and others. Some of the key findings are:

• Four million work more than 48 hours a week on average, 700,000 more than in 1992.
• Only one in three people with jobs know that the law protects them against working more than 48 hours a week.
• Nearly two out of three people who say they work regularly more than 48 hours a week say they have not been asked to opt out of the working time regulations.
• One in four who have signed an opt-out say they were given no choice about signing away their rights.
• Three out of five of those who work more than 48 hours say they would like to work fewer hours.

The TUC is asking employees to pass on their experiences of working long hours by phoning the TUC "time line", on 08708 500500, or sending their story by email by visiting www.worksmart.org.uk .

Responding to these findings, Digby Jones, the CBI's Director General, said: "Removing the opt-out to the working time directive would stop thousands of people working overtime and remove a vital flexibility for employers. What gives the TUC the right to interfere with the freedom of choice of the individual in the vastly different world of work of the 21st century? The trade unions represent 63 per cent of public sector workers and only 19 per cent in the private sector. They have no relevance to the everyday working lives of over 80 per cent of private sector employees and over a third in the public sector."

Comment:

Without taking sides on these issues, it should be noted that the purpose of the European Directive 93/104/EC, which is implemented in the UK by the Working Time Regulations 1998, is to "protect workers against adverse effects on their health and safety caused by working excessively long hours, having inadequate rest or disruptive working patterns." The principal authority for ensuring compliance with the working time limits of the Working Time Regulations 1998 lies with the Health and Safety Executive.
(Sources: www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-7038-f0.cfm
www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/... )
...back to 12 September 2003

The "threat" of EU Regulation

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the employment agency Pertemps have published the results of a survey of 550 companies in May 2003. Some of the findings and conclusions from the survey are

• 45 per cent of employers would offer fewer temporary work assignments under the Temporary Workers Directive.
• 59 per cent of employers said the directive would impose extra costs making temporary workers less affordable, removing a vital flexibility for employers and denying a crucial route into work to the unemployed, ex-offenders or working mothers.
• Proposals to remove the right to opt-out of the Working Time Directive would cost thousands the choice to do overtime. Thirty-nine per cent of employers said losing the opt-out would have a serious impact on their business. Only 27 per cent said it would have no impact.
• 19 per cent of all employees regularly used the individual opt out. In the smallest companies 24 per cent regularly used it. Removing this right would take away their opportunity to earn extra and damage companies' competitiveness.

(Source: www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c... )
...back to 5 September 2003