Viewpoints: Working time dispute

The UK is resisting pressure to end its opt-out from the EU's maximum 48-hour working week.

Fourteen other EU Member States also have opt-outs from the Working Time Directive (WTD). Proposals to amend the WTD are under intense negotiation in the EU. Euro MPs voted in December 2008 to scrap the opt-out.

Here two leading figures in the debate - John Cridland of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Brendan Barber of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) - put the cases for and against the opt-out.

ESO: Background information: EU in tough talks on working week http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-in-tough-talks-on-working-week/

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