17th December 2008 - Linda backs new deal to protect workers on working time

Linda McAvan has today voted to back a new deal in the European Parliament to give workers more choice if they want to earn extra money through overtime – without putting them or the public at increased risk.
 
European Parliament plans for new laws mean workers who until now had only been allowed to do an average of 48 hours per week over four months will be able to average that over a year, increasing flexibility, giving workers more scope to fit their work around busy periods or, in these difficult economic times, to increase their hours when they need to.

But Ms McAvan is concerned that the new legislation must safeguard health and safety. She says;

“Not only does regularly working long hours increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stress and depression but, depending on your job, it can increase your exposure to dangers in the workplace and affect your concentration. Fatigue will potentially put you, those you work with, and even the public at risk of injury or even death.”

Under the European Parliament’s proposals, following an expected lengthy phase-out period, UK employers will no longer be able to force employees to sign an ‘opt out’ of the average 48 hours-a-week regulations. The new rules will not come into full force until 2020 at the earliest to allow employers time to adjust.

According to research from the TUC, over half of people on paid overtime want to cut their hours. 2.3 million people working more than 48 hours a week in the UK - the overwhelming majority - don’t get paid for the overtime they do.

The plans will now be discussed by national governments.

Linda McAvan said;

“Working more hours, more of the time, over a long period of time is not good for health and it doesn’t even necessarily mean more money. There’s evidence that where working hours have been reduced, pay has actually gone up because people are better rested and more productive. Keeping our long hours culture going doesn’t help in an economic downturn. It just means the low paid remain low paid.”

She added;

“I hope now that we can get agreement on this new law and give workers the flexibility they need at work whilst also protecting them against unscrupulous employers.”