Working Time Directive extended
Hundreds of thousands of new workers can expect better protection at work thanks to the European Working Time Directive, which has been extended today.
The directive establishes working rights such as maximum number of hours per week and the right to four weeks paid annual leave. However, several industries were excluded from the rules when it was introduced in the UK.
A large majority of workers were covered when the directive was introduced to the UK in 1998, but many were excluded because of concerns about how their industries would adapt.
One example of this was junior doctors, which have traditionally worked long hours, and there were fears that the NHS would suffer if their hours were cut. There were also exemptions for staff in the transport industries because the nature of the work.
Today’s extensions follow years of pressure from workers not included to be granted the same rights as other workers, and will see people such as airport ground staff bought into line with the norm.
Some types of work have reached agreement on a phased introduction that will see junior doctors and heavy goods vehicle drivers protected by a 48-hour limit which will be reached by gradual reductions in existing working times.
One group of workers that will be disappointed today are those that work out to sea on oil rigs, who have been unable to reach an agreement with the Government on implementation.
Thousands of people working on rigs stay out to sea for 26 weeks, and then spend 26 weeks at home as compensatory rest. This shift pattern has caused a debate about holiday pay between their union Amicus and the Government.
The Government argues that two of the four weeks paid annual leave required by the working time directive should be discounted against the 26 weeks off. The union disagrees and the failure to reach a conclusion means that Oil workers will continue not to be covered by the directive for the time being.
