Over 10,000 trade unionists demonstrated outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday calling on MEPs to vote against the possibility of opting out of a directive regulating overtime, ahead of a crucial vote today.

If this vote goes through, as expected, it will put in jeopardy a compromise deal struck between EU member states last June which allowed Malta to opt out of the EU's Working Time Directive and allow its workers to do as much overtime as they want to.

The vote to amend the directive involves the definition of working time and the period over which the maximum average working week is calculated, as well as the extent to which EU member states are legally obliged to implement the directive.

Yesterday's demonstration was attended by representatives of the major European trade unions including the European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EFPSU).

Though active members of the ETUC, both the General Workers' Union (GWU) and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UHM) were not represented at the manifestation as they oppose the stand taken by their umbrella organisations over this issue.

While European trade unions are against overtime and insist that workers should not work more than the normal working week due to health and safety considerations, both Maltese trade unions agree with the government's stand of allowing workers the option to choose how many extra hours they want to work.

Sources close to the EP said that today's vote can still go both ways as the EP is split over the issue. However, the Socialist MEP coordinating the issue, Alejandro Cercas is working for a definite vote against the opt-out clauses found in the ministerial agreement.

While the Socialist, the European United Left and the Greens groups are against the continuation of opt-outs by member states, MEPs from the centre-right EPP and the Liberals groups are still split and many of their members will vote according to their country's position.

All five Maltese MEPs are expected to support the government's position.

EU employment ministers will be closely following the events in Strasbourg from Brussels where they will be meeting for the Employment council. The outcome of this vote has been as one of the highlights on the agenda. Malta is to be represented by Social Policy Minister John Dalli.

Over the past four years, Malta has always argued for an "opt-out" as it maintains that its employment market necessitates a more flexible working attitude particularly in the health, tourism and security sector.