No agreement on working time directive

EU employment ministers failed to agree yesterday on the revision of the working-time directive, despite last-minute compromise proposals tabled by the European Commission on Wednesday.

Meeting at the Employment Council in Luxembourg yesterday, the ministers failed to find a common position as all the member states who were opposed to the removal of the opt-out clause, including Malta, stuck to their original position.

Sources close to the council told The Times the discussion on the new proposals took place over lunch. However, it was clear that there was still a blocking minority to removing the opt-out and a vote was not taken.

Malta was represented by Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea.

Following a vote by the European Parliament last month in favour of removing the opt-out clause, the commission proposed that the opt-out be available only for a period not exceeding three years following the date of implementation of the directive by member states, until 2012.

The commission also offered that member states making use of the opt-out may, for reasons relating to their labour market arrangements, ask for the option to be extended beyond three years.

In spite of this proposed mid-way compromise, the sources said that Malta, Britain, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Cyprus were still insisting they were in favour of retaining the opt-out clause without any restrictions and thus stuck to their original position.

The working time directive forms part of the EU's health and safety regulations to protect workers and limits the average working hours per week to 48. However, until now, the directive allows member states to opt out of this provision.

The issue now returns to the European Parliament and the question is likely to drag on into 2006. A compromise between Council and Parliament is unlikely.