Support Grows For Opt Out

18-08-2006

In the long-running battle between employers and employees, there is an agreement. People are prepared to work more hours and retire later - and they do not want the government to interfere.

A recent poll completed by nearly 10,000 workers in five European countries has found that a majority of voters would have supported the government's defence of Britain's opt out from the 2003 Working Time Directive, which allows employees to choose to work longer than the European Union limits of a maximum average working week of 48 hours.

There is also substantial support for greater freedom to work longer hours in Germany (65%) and France (52%), countries which traditionally have attracted popular domestic backing for their more protective labour regulations.

High unemployment rates in Germany and France - which have been running at twice the rate of Britain's - and the prospect of losing more jobs to lower-cost eastern European labour markets, have prompted some politicians to reconsider the benefits of a more flexible approach to labour regulations.

Overall some 47% of western Europeans oppose restrictions on working hours. This still left a sizeable minority of 40% who were in favour of controls.

The results will provide welcome news to the British Government as they indicate broad support for its determined defence of the country's opt out of the EU's Working Time Directive.

In addition, a large majority of British workers appear to oppose proposed legislation that would still allow employers to force staff to retire at 65 even when new EU age discrimination rules are triggered in October.

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