Dec 15th 2008 - Debate; Working Time Directive

Delivered by Derek Clark on 15 December 2008

Speech to Parliament Strasbourg Mon Dec 15th 2008 Debate; Working Time Directive Mr President, the Working Time Directive is a waste of time, it has been going round since before I became an MEP, shortly after which a minister from the UK Work & Pensions Dept asked me to support HMG's position,- to retain the opt-outs. Naturally I did so, I still do and I am in good company with other countries which also wish to retain opt-outs.

So let me to trace some of its history. Dec18th 2007, the rapporteur said that a group of countries did not want the WTD or a social Europe, they wanted a free market,- the law of the jungle -, so they must be psychiatric cases, he said. Thanks, due to world -wide trading, and freedom from EU restraints at home, the UK is strong enough to be the EU's second biggest contributor, £15 billion each year.

I don't suppose he would turn that away. In Dec that year the Portuguese presidency said they could not risk a vote on the WTD in council, so let the Slovenia which followed sort it out,- and that's after working it in with the Temporary Workers Agency to help it along. Slovenia suggested first a 65 hour working week, then 70 hours but the Council attitude to stand-by time wrecked that, while the ECJ drove a cart and horse through minimum wages.

When Finland ended their presidency their labour minister commented to the Employment Committee that ministers talked big about the WTD when in Brussels, when they get home it was a different story. Quite. Now last month, Nov 4th, the rapporteur again said that the WTD must come first, before economics. Well, if you neglect the economics how do you raise the taxes which result from WTD ? Companies taking on extra workers to fill the gaps left by shorter working time raises unit costs, they fail to compete and jobs are lost.

Which is why France abandoned their 35 hour week. Follow the French and bury this unworkable Working Time Directive for once and all.

Derek Clark MEP Strasbourg Dec 15th 2008