Flexibility is the key to working time directive

WThe European Parliament has voted to take away the UK’s opt-out of the 48 hour working week despite strong recommendations from the NFU to vote otherwise.

Prior to the vote on the EU Working Time Directive, the NFU had stressed to MEPs that the retention of the opt-out was crucial to the freedom of farm businesses and therefore the security of domestic food and energy production.

The vote at the European Parliament follows a long battle in which the NFU has stood fiercely in favour of the opt-out, which allows both employers and employees the freedom to choose their working hours.

The NFU’s recommendations to MEPs have included:

• Keeping the UK opt-out of the 48-hour working week. The NFU views flexibility in working hours as essential to the domestic production of food and energy

• No to restrictions on Sunday working. The need to produce food, such as milking cows, is not restricted to a five day week. Farmers also have to work in all kinds of weather.

• Retention of flexibility for both worker and employer. This includes no individual opt-outs and application on a per-worker basis of the working time and rest periods.

NFU Vice-President Paul Temple said: "Today’s decision by Parliament represents a major disappointment, but this is not the end of the process. The Working Time Directive has been an unusually unpredictable dossier in the EU, as many of the usual mechanisms to secure consensus before the vote in the ’Plenary’ session were not successful. Of all the issues raised, the UK opt-out in particular, has famously divided MEPs of all political persuasions. Prior to the vote the NFU received assurance from many MEPs that the views of farmers and growers would be represented, yet it was still not clear which way the decision would go.

"The NFU also welcomes the Government’s swift response and its support for the opt-out clause which gives a freedom of choice to UK workers over working hours. We agree with the Government that it is wrong to take away from workers the chance to work longer and earn more if they wish.

"The report can now move on for consideration at the EU Council of Ministers, where national governments are expected to make a definitive decision on the thorny issue of the UK’s opt-out. We will be working closely with other farming and employer groups to use the support already gained for the retention of the opt-out and other employment freedoms."