CMTU disagrees with European Parliament on opt-out clause

The Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU) has informed the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) that it disagrees with the European Parliament, which recently adopted its position on the revision of the Working Time Directive and reiterated its stand in favour of retaining the 'opt-out clause' where overtime was concerned.

"The adopted conclusions open the way to positive changes for better training opportunities, for a better reconciliation of professional and family lives and for putting an end to the legal abuse of the opt-out clause.

"The CMTU agrees with such principles but at the same time insists that considering the particular Maltese scenario and the current economic and social situation an opt-out compromise is the best solution.

The CMTU said it had always been at the forefront to protect workers from adverse health and safety risks associated with very long hours of work. Workers, especially in certain areas, should avoid working long hours as fatigue and loss of concentration could lead to the risk of industrial accidents.

"It is difficult arguing against the merits of this directive and also of the motivation for the opt-out clause. It is in the interest of all primarily to protect workers' health. But Malta, among other countries opposing the scrapping of the opt-out clause, has valid reasons for wanting to maintain flexibility in working hours. Malta wants to continue to move in the direction of competitiveness and sustainability.

"The CMTU is not surprised that many countries are in favour of removing the opt-out clause. In many EU countries workers do not have to resort to overtime work as their salaries and pay are adequate to ensure that their standard of living is such that they can choose to stay away from extra work.

"This is not the case in Malta as the standard of living is much lower than that of a number of EU countries. The move to scrap the opt-out clause is also likely to generate a great deal of opposition because of economic and social restraints," the confederation said.

The CMTU insisted that it should be the right of the individual worker to decide whether one should work extra hours. However, employers are to make sure that workers who opt to work longer hours are protected and that there are no serious risks to their health and safety.

The CMTU completely distances itself from those who are proposing that the unions should decide for the workers, the CMTU said.