UK unions argue against long-hours culture

LONDON - British trade unions yesterday set out the case for a shorter working week, just days ahead of an EU meeting in which the government is expected to argue to keep the country's opt-out from the European 48-hour maximum.

The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) said it wanted to explode the myths that surround Britain's culture of long-hours working.

According to the TUC, employers have wrongly claimed that long hours do not have a detrimental affect on the health of workers, that those people who work long hours are happy to do so and that the economy needs people to work extra hours.

The TUC argues that people who regularly work in excess of 48 hours a week tend to drink and smoke more, and to adopt a poor diet against other workers.

Evidence also indicates they are also likely to suffer an increased risk of heart disease, mental illness, diabetes and bowel problems, the TUC said.

Britain is sometimes viewed as the sweatshop of Europe with people working hours more akin to those worked in the United States than its EU neighbours.

The average fulltime British employee works a 43.7 hour week - longer than in any comparable country in the EU - and EU ministers meet on June 2 to discuss an end to Britain's opt-out.

According to a government report, 58 per cent of long-hours workers would like a limit of 48 hours.

The TUC said 600,000 employees feel they were pressured to work long hours by their employers and that six out of ten long-hours workers - 2.2 million people - do not get paid for the extra time they work.

Britain has led opposition to European Commission proposals to tightening EU law which limits the working week to 48 hours over fears such restrictions would impact the country's competitiveness.

- REUTERS