UK workers' overtime rights protected
Wed 11 Jun 2008
10/06/2008
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UK workers are allowed to choose to work overtime after government ministers agreed a deal with the European Union (EU). The Working Time Directive and the Agency Workers Directive were agreed at the EU's Employment Council. "This is a very good deal for the UK," said business secretary, John Hutton. "It provides a fair deal for workers, without damaging Britain's economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk." The agreement represents security for people to work more than 48 hours a week and "will give a fair deal for agency workers and prevent unfair undercutting of permanent staff", Mr Hutton added. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry signed a deal recently, which agreed a 12-week qualifying period for agency workers to be given equal treatment in a given job. "Employers wanting to diversify the workplace will always find unions a willing ally," said Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary. "Diversity policies work best when the entire workplace is involved."
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