Current News
Working time opt-out in peril
Following a vote in the European Parliament this week the UK opt-out is now in peril.Commenting on the vote Tom Hadley, Director of External Relations at the REC said
“The European Parliament should think twice before removing the opt out. During these difficult times businesses need more flexibility, not less, if they are to survive. If the opt out does go the Government needs to be even more careful with how it implements the agency workers directive. Businesses will be looking to the temporary workforce to cover sickness and up-turns in demand if overtime is not an option.”
The member states of the European Union agreed the agency workers directive and working time directive in June 2008 as part of a package deal. The agency workers directive has now been approved by the European Parliament without amendment. The balance in the text of these two directives was very delicately reached and the REC urges the European Parliament to adopt the working time directive without an amendment to the opt out.
