EU aims to curb working opt-out

The Commission has on the 22 September 2004, after extensive consultation across Europe, adopted a proposal to update key aspects of the working time directive. It is a balanced package of inter-related measures which retains the principal objective - health & safety of workers - while responding to the needs of the modern European economy. The individual opt-out from the 48 hour week would remain possible, but be subject to stricter conditions to prevent abuse. Member States would be given the possibility to extend the reference period for calculating the 48-hour maximum working week from 4 months to a year. Time spent on call that is not worked would not be counted as working time, with compensatory rest granted within 72 hours.

• Primary Source

ETUC: Press Release, 22.9.04: ETUC considers proposals of European Commission to revise the Working Time Directive as unacceptable and totally out of proportion http://etuc.org/a/405

United Kingdom: Confederation of British Industry: Press Release: CBI pledges to fight 'tooth and nail' against EU proposals on working time, 22.9.04 http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/850969d6adbb912480256f170031eb15?OpenDocument

United Kingdom: Trades Union Congress: Press Release: Changes to working time rules satisfy no-one, 22.9.04 http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-8677-f0.cfm

European Commission: DG Employment and Social Affairs: News: Commission proposes revision of Working Time Directive, 22.9.04 http://ec.europa.eu/comm/employment_social/news/2004/sep/working_time_prop_en.htm

European Commission: Memo: MEMP/04/219 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/04/219&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Press Release: IP/04/1129 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1129&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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