Background
Like all European Union directives, this is an instrument which requires member states to enact its provisions in national legislation. Although the directive applies to all member states, in the United Kingdom, it is possible to opt out of the 48 hour working week and work longer hours. However, it is not possible to opt out of the other requirements. France passed stricter legislation limiting the maximum working week to 35 hours.
After the 1993 Council Negotiations, when the Directive was agreed to after a 11-1 vote, UK Employment Secretary David Hunt said "It is a flagrant abuse of Community rules. It has been brought forward as such simply to allow majority voting - a ploy to smuggle through part of the Social Chapter by the back door. The UK strongly opposes any attempt to tell people that they can no longer work the hours they want."
Read more about this topic: Working Time Directive
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