Time out

The European Parliament has voted to end the UK's opt-out of the EU Working Time Directive, which allows UK companies to ask staff to work more than 48 hours a week.

'This is a victory for a common sense compromise on the 48 hour working week,’ said TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.

'If implemented it would mean that employers would have to accept that staff could no longer work more than 48 hours a week on average, but unions would have to concede that the average would be calculated over 12 months, not the current 17 weeks. This would mean nearly two million UK workers who currently work more than 48 hours over a 17 week period would fall below the limit, and only the two million workers putting in extremely long hours all year round will be affected,' he added. 'Working more than 48 hours week in, week out, year in, year out is undoubtedly bad for health and productivity. Tired workers are more likely to have accidents and to suffer illness.'