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The European Union has been debating revisions to the current Working Time Directive throughout the course of 2008. The main cause of contention has been the ability of member states to allow their workers to voluntarily ‘opt-out’ of the requirements of the Directive, therefore being able to work more than 48 hours per week. The UK, under John Major, negotiated the opt-out in 1993. Much political wrangling and negotiation has ensued.Yesterday the EU Parliament voted on the revised Directive, and the result opposed  the continued use of the opt-out, which could mean that within three years, British workers will be restricted to working, on average, no more than 48 hours per week.

The defeat represents a potential humiliation for Gordon Brown, who has been negotiating to keep the UK’s status quo and in February this year finally agreed to lend support to the Temporary and Agency Workers Directive as a bargaining tool to maintain the opt-out. There is little question that Agency workers will retain their new rights, but the new Working Time Directive will continue to be hotly debated into next year.

The vote of the Parliament will now be considered by the European Commission, but the ultimate decision rests with the European Council which will decide in June whether to keep or abolish the opt-out clause.

Watch this space for further news on this contentious issue!