Brussels moves to block UK work hours opt-out

Business leaders today condemned as "totally unacceptable" proposals by Brussels to curb Britain's working hours.

New plans by the European Commission would give unions a veto on whether individual members of staff could work more than 48 hours a week.

The proposals are seen as the latest attempt by Brussels to end Britain's opt-out of the working time directive.

Under the plans, drawn up by the French ahead of next week's meeting of European commissioners, firms would have to have union approval before they could ask staff to work longer than 48 hours a week.

The agreements would only be valid for a year and even if staff agree to work longer than 48 hours a week there would be a maximum cap of 65 hours a week.

Critics claim the proposals would severely constrain business freedom in Britain. John Cridland, deputy director of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "The Commission is trying to impose a Franco-German style of industrial relations through the back door."

David Yeandle, of the EEF manufacturers' organisation, said individuals should have the right to decide their hours, regardless of union opinion. "More and more people seem to be less and less enthusiastic about a collective approach to working," he said.

The British government is expected to reject the Commission's plans. But the proposals come at a sensitive time for the Government as it seeks to rebuild bridges with its union allies ahead of the general election. The unions have long campaigned for Labour to drop the "opt out" clause, which was created after Whitehall insisted workers should be allowed to forgo the 48-hour limit set by the EU working time directive in 1993.

In Europe, France and Germany have long objected to the British exemption, claiming it gives UK-based firms an unfair economic advantage. Britain has blocked previous attempts to change the working time directive after mustering support from likeminded EU member states.

But the expansion to 25 states could make it more difficult to assure a majority if the opt-out is put to a vote.