MEPs scrap working time 'opt-out'

Date: 18th December 2008

British businesses have been rocked by the news that the European Parliament has moved to end the UK's Working Time Directive opt-out.

During a session yesterday (December 17th), members of the European Parliament voted in numbers of 421 for and 273 against to abolish the right to work more than 48 hours per week.

The decision could potentially affect a variety of British businesses, including sole traders, ltd companies and partnerships.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, commented: "This decision sends the wrong signals to the rest of the world.

"We're in the middle of a recession and as soon as we come out of this downturn, MEPs want businesses to have their competitive advantage stripped away."

Mr Frost urged the government to make sure the European Parliament's vote was "not the end of the road" for the opt-out.

Recent research by Spark Ventures revealed that the biggest worry for small businesses during the economic downturn was the loss of client contracts.