Working Time Directive Opt-out Must Be Kept - Liz Lynne

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Dec 2005

As the UK Presidency stumbles to a conclusion, Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne today called on the French and others to seriously consider a

compromise tabled by the UK Presidency on the Working Time Directive for the 8th December Council Summit.

Speaking in Brussels today, Ms Lynne commented,

"I welcome attempts in the compromise to retain the opt out with more stringent conditions on its use, as ALDE shadow this is what I pushed for

in the parliament.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that many of the Member States calling for the scrapping of the opt out are using other ways to get round working

time regulations, like multiple contracts with the same employer.

"Europe-wide working limits on hours will not deliver health and safety for our workforce."

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

Liz Lynne MEP is shadow rapporteur on the working time directive for the ALDE group.

On 10 May the European Parliament voted 345 votes in favour with 264 against Cercas' report on the review of the Working Time Directive. The most significant element for the UK was agreement on the amendment to phase-out the individual opt-out to the 48 hour week 36 months after entry into force of the new directive. 378 MEPs voted in favour of this amendment, 262 against.

If an agreement is reached in the Council of Ministers the report will return to Parliament for a second reading.