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MEPs CALL ON BRITAIN TO END WORKING TIME OPT OUT

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Date: 27th January 2004

GMB – “ABUSE OF OPT-OUT ACUTE IN BRITAIN”

The GMB, Britain’s General Union welcomes the support shown by Members of the European Parliament to protect the health and safety of workers by in voting in favour of ending Britain’s opt-out of the Working Time Directive. The report was passed today in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament in Brussels.

GMB General Secretary, Kevin Curran, said:

“This report recognises that people working excessively long hours is bad for workers’ health and safety, and furthermore the safety of those working along side them or in their care. With over 3 million men working more than 48 hours a week, the British work some of the longest hours in Europe. Workers are burned out, stressed, prone to periods of sick leave, and begging for early retirement which adversely affects our productivity and competitive economy.

“I am staggered that some Conservative and Liberal MEP’s think that workers choose to work longer hours just to secure higher or extra pay. The overwhelming majority of workers are forced to work such hours to earn a basic living wage, never mind a bit extra. Given the choice, most would prefer to be spending more time with their family and friends.

Kevin Curran added: “ Abuse of the opt-out on working time has been acute in Britain, and does not give workers the freedom to choose, nor does it offer them the flexibility that some would have us believe.”

“We applaud the Labour MEP’s, led by Stephen Hughes, for supporting this report, working to protect the health, safety, and family life of the millions of people back in their constituencies by calling on the British Government to address this as matter of urgency.”