GRTU backs government stand on working time directive

The stand adopted by the government on the EU Working Time Directive has found the backing of the Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU.

This stand is correct and in the best interest of the country, the GRTU said.

Malta has turned down a Finnish presidency proposal to revise the EU's working time directive, limiting the hours of overtime a person can undertake.

The GRTU said Malta should insist on the retention of the opt out clause and continue to maintain that the EU Commission should not impose working conditions on member states where the democratic government of a member state, after consultations with the social partners, decides that it is not in the national interest to impose in their territory working time conditions that create economic problems without any specific social gain.

The Commission's working time proposals are not appropriate for Malta even as amended, the GRTU insisted, while urging the authorities not to budge on this issue.