This call has been made by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, in its response to the Commission’s consultation exercise on its review of the Working Time Directive which ends on 31 March 2004.
EEF argues that, although averaging working time over 52 weeks would substantially reduce its members’ need to make use of the individual opt out, many companies would still regard it as imperative for the successful and efficient operation of their business for employees to have the freedom to opt out of the average 48 hour working week.
EEF Deputy Director of Employment Policy, David Yeandle, said:-
“The retention of the individual out from the average 48 hour working week remains an important issue for many manufacturing companies as its removal would pose a threat to the successful and efficient operation of their businesses. It is therefore encouraging that the UK Government is taking such a firm line on this issue in support of British manufacturing. This should ensure continued flexibility for both employers and employees”
Other key points in EEF’s response are:-
In reviewing the Directive, the Commission must address separately the issues of retaining the individual opt out, extending the default reference period for averaging working time and revising the definition of working time”.
The definition of “working time” should be clarified so that “inactive time”, when workers are not required actively to carry out their employers’ activities or duties, does not count as part of their working time for the purposes of the Directive
EEF members would not object to a rule preventing the individual opt out from being signed as a condition of commencing employment but would have serious objections to recordkeeping requirements over and above the records that they already maintain for employees who have opted out.