Europe's changes to rules on working hours strongly opposed by Lib Dems (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Europe's changes to rules on working hours strongly opposed by Lib Dems

April 16, 2009 9:03 AM

Sharon Bowles, MEP for South East region

Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have been leading the fight to keep the British opt-out from the European Working Time Directive. Lib Dem member for the South-East Region, Sharon Bowles, said: "Removing the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive would be a thunderbolt to British businesses, the NHS and emergency services, and I am strongly opposed to it."

Sharon added: "Employment flexibility is necessary, especially in hard economic times. The National Health Service and our emergency services cannot be expected to function as efficiently as they do under these strict working time rules."

Sharon Bowles and her Liberal Democrat colleagues in the European Parliament were fierce opponents of removing the opt-out on the Working Time Directive, and voted against it in Parliament on the 17th December 2008.

Unfortunately the rule change was passed with the support of UK Labour MEPs. British Conservative MEPs opposed Liberal Democrat amendments to make any British opt-out truly voluntary for workers.

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne is now working with ministers in the UK government in negotiations with the European Council to keep the UK opt-out. Liz was the shadow rapporteur for the Directive and tabled many amendments against it in Parliament. She is the only British politician involved in the negotiations.

Sharon Bowles said: "We who oppose this Directive have to stand behind Liz Lynne as she negotiates with the Council to keep the opt-out."