The European Parliament has voted to force the UK to opt out of the EU's controversial working week limits, resolving longstanding disputes between member states over the maximum amount of time Europeans can safely spend at work. It was a blow to the agreement.
A majority of MEPs agreed that the current provisions, mainly applied by the UK and some new Member States, should be abolished three years after the Directive's adoption. In Wednesday's vote (December 17), 421 MPs voted in favor, while 273 MPs opposed and 11 abstained.
In addition, lawmakers ruled that the current health and safety standards of a maximum working week of 48 hours calculated over a 12-month reference period should no longer be waived. .
Finally, Congress reinforced its previous decision that time spent by workers, particularly doctors, firefighters, and social workers, should be counted as proper “work time” even when they are not called to work. did.
“This is a victory for all political groups in the European Parliament, the entire Parliament. It is a victory for two million doctors and medical students across the EU,” said Spain's center-left lawmaker Alejandro Cercas. Modification of Member States' positions.
It is precisely because of the definition of working time that the EU Executive initiated changes to working time rules in 2002, following several decisions by the EU Court of Justice that on-call time should be considered normal working time. Met.
Given the significant impact on public spending that this judgment could impose on national governments and the lack of expertise in the most affected areas, Brussels introduced a list of changes that Member States are expected to adopt. It took several years.
In June, 27 ministers finally succeeded in advancing a compromise in which the UK agreed to make concessions on more generous terms for agency workers in exchange for retaining the opt-out from the 48-hour week limit.
labor union demonstration
Ahead of Wednesday's decision, thousands of trade unionists marched to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“There is no question of the democratic legitimacy of today's vote,” Carola Fischbacher Pittel, general secretary of the European Federation of Civil Service Unions, said after the vote.
But UK Business Secretary Pat McFadden told the BBC it would be a mistake to end the opt-out during an economic downturn when people may need to work extra hours.
Several UK Conservative and Eurosceptic MPs also opposed the move, which was supported by a majority of MPs.
Derek Clark, from the UK Independence Party, said: “The loss of competitiveness for businesses means higher prices and more job losses. That's why France abandoned the 35-hour work week.'' Ta.
Economic groups also echoed the negative opinion. “We are extremely disappointed in the position adopted by Parliament today and its inability to understand the serious implications of this vote for Europe's economy, which is already severely affected by the economic crisis,” Arnaldo said. Stated. Mr. Abruzzini of the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry Eurochambers.
Taking into account the different versions of the working time bill agreed by the EU's two legislative bodies, Parliament and the Council (member states) will start a “conciliation procedure” next year with the aim of reaching a common agreement.
EU Social Policy Commissioner Vladimir Spidra said: “The Commission will do everything it can as an honest intermediary to find a solution that will allow the European Parliament and the Council to reach a satisfactory agreement.” Stated.
