48-hour working week saved

Pub staff have been granted a permanent right to work more than 48 hours a week.

This came after a compromise from the UK, when it agreed plans to give temporary workers the same employment rights as permanent staff after 12 weeks on a job.

The UK was given a permanent opt-out of the European Working Time Directive, which limits the working week to 48 hours, by the EU Employment Council last night.

A Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) spokesman said: "There was a line in the sand for the FSB on the 48-hour working week.​

"It provides that flexibility for the work ethic that we have in the UK.

"This applies to the leisure and pub sector as much as anywhere else.

"As long as there is nothing that forces people to work more than 48 hours, and we don't think there is, it works well."

Business Secretary John Hutton said: "This is a very good deal for the UK.​

It provides a fair deal for workers, without damaging Britain's economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk.

"Flexibility has been critical to our ability to create an extra three million jobs over the past decade. That flexibility has been preserved by ensuring workers can continue to have choice over their working hours in future years.

"This agreement means that people remain free to earn overtime and businesses can cope during busy times."

Several EU countries wanted an end to the UK's opt-out of the Working Time Directive, arguing it protects staff from exploitation.