Union Wins EU Working Hours Case

Britain has been told by the EU to limit workers to a 48-hour week or face legal action.

The European Commission has upheld a complaint by AMICUS, Britain's largest private sector union, finding that the government had failed to implement fully the working time directive.

Roger Lyons, from AMICUS, said the decision will cut excessive working hours and slash stress levels. It will bring Britain closer to its European neighbours on working time, as British workers worked to longest hours in Europe.

Employer organisations have urged the government to mount a robust defence of the way they have implemented the directive.

(Hazards; no. 79, July-September, 2002)