Allister defends British opt-out
16 December 2008
This week (Wednesday) in the European Parliament there will be a crucial vote on the future of the British opt-out from the Working Time Directive.
In 1993, the UK won a general opt-out clause allowing it not to apply the maximum 48-hour working week if a worker agrees to work, in other Member States the opt-out applies only in some sectors.
The Employment Committee of the Parliament is calling for no exceptions to the 48-hours maximum working time calculated over 12 months and calls for the end of the opt-out within three years after adoption of the directive.
An absolute majority of MEPs (393) is needed in plenary to confirm the Employment Committee's amendments or to adopt any other amendment to the Council's common position, which permits continuance of the opt-out.
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister is a strong opponent of removal of the British opt-out and speaking in the debate, ahead of the vote tomorrow, made his stance very clear:-
"I am resolutely opposed to the removal of the right of the UK to exercise an opt-out on the Working Time Directive and I refute the right of this European Parliament to attempt to rob my country of that entitlement.
Control of working hours, in my book, is a matter exclusively for national control, not for Brussels diktat. If British workers are permitted, by their own elected government, to work more than 48 hours per week, why should it matter to those from countries whose governments are more prescriptive? Frankly, it should be none of your business!
But it is a vital matter for British business, especially at this time of immense economic downturn, when maximum flexibility and less regulation, not more, is key to economic recovery. Maximising European production, getting our goods sold at home and abroad, and making it easier for business to grow, should be the concern of us all. Yet, here we have ideologues intent on foisting their precious social agenda on everyone, even where it is unwanted."
It really is time this House got its priorities right and rejecting this attempt to quash the British opt-out would be a good start."
