The European Parliament has voted to stop allowing people to work more than 48 hours a week, triggering a clash with European Union member states and business.

EU states have a joint say on the measure and they have already agreed among themselves to allow people to work over 48 hours a week if they want to.

Last-ditch talks between parliament and governments will now begin, with the outcome uncertain.

Malta and 14 other EU states that currently have opt-outs, allowing people to work more than 48 hours a week if they want to, had been campaigning hard to maintain this provision, which will continue until there is any change in the rules.

On the core provision of capping the working week to 48 hours, lawmakers voted by 421 to 273 in favour, with 11 abstentions.

They voted by 512 to 141 to count all hours on call -- for example, for hospital doctors -- as working time.

"I would like to congratulate two million doctors around Europe," said Alejandro Cercas, the Spanish socialist who steered the measure through parliament.

"This is an opportunity to make our agenda the agenda of the citizens," Cercas said.

All five Maltese MEPs voted against the motion and backed the Maltese government position in favour of the opt-out.