UK to fight EU Working Time Directive
The UK will go to Europe again today to make its case for continuing to opt out of the EU's 48 hour working week.
The EU Working Time Directive guarantees workers at least four weeks' paid annual leave, a minimum period of 11 hours' rest every 24 hours, at least one day's rest per week, and a rest break if the working day is longer than six hours.
The UK has fought moves to end the opt-out, saying it promotes economic growth and lowers unemployment.
Ahead of today's Council of Ministers' meeting in Brussels the Federation of Small Businesses called on the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, to resist pleas from other EU member states to water down the UK's opt out policy.
Surrendering the opt-out would be equivalent to abandoning British businesses but so would allowing it to be watered down with tons more red tapeAlan Tyrrell, FSB national employment chairman.
Alan Tyrrell, FSB national employment chairman, said: "The Government cannot afford to sell-out the interests of small firms to simply mollify other European Union member states.
"Alistair Darling should carry on the fight in Brussels defending the interests of British businesses.
Tyrell also attacked red-tape and said the last thing British business needs is more paperwork in return for its opt-out.
"A large increase in bureaucracy to defend the existing opt-out is unacceptable," he said.
"Small firms employ over 12 million people in the UK but the owners have to spend an average of 28 hours a month filling in forms.
"That's nearly 4 working days lost when they could be out growing the business and creating more jobs.
"Adding to the pile of red tape is not in the interests of the UK economy.
"Surrendering the opt-out would be equivalent to abandoning British businesses but so would allowing it to be watered down with tons more red tape.
"Alistair Darling must fight for the interests of UK small firms and the millions of people they employ."
