NEWS RELEASE
From the office of the Green MEPs
September 15th,
2004
LONG HOURS CAUSE ILL-HEALTH AND POVERTY, TUC WARNED
'UK OPT-OUT
ON WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE WORSENS SOCIAL EXCLUSION'
'Flexible
Working: A work-life balance or a balancing act?' download report here
 | 'FLEXIBLE
working' is being used by UK employers to force employees to give up pension rights
and work the longest hours in Europe - widening the poverty gap and forcing thousands
to suffer long-term ill-health, a new report published to coincide with the TUC
conference has warned. 'Flexible Working: A Work-Life Balance or a Balancing
Act', sent to key unions and organisers of this week's TUC conference in Brighton,
calls on the UK to immediately end its opt-out of the EU Working Time Directive,
which limits the maximum working week to an average of 48 hours. |
The
report's author, Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP for London and a Member of the
European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said: "UK
interpretation of flexible working has been characterised by longer working hours,
exploitation of the most vulnerable, wage poverty and low-skilled workers obtaining
erratic and inadequate placements with no predictable levels of income, working
time or even location - a far cry from the EU model of quality of life choices,
home working and improved work-life balance."
The report coincides
not just with the TUC annual conference - at which the concerns it raises will
be discussed - but with a European Commission proposal to limit the UK's opt-out
and CBI calls for it to be extended.
Mrs Lambert called on the UK to end
its opt-out of the Working Time Directive, to recognise the needs of those caring
for elderly and disable relatives, to replace current social security arrangements
with a 'citizens income' to provide a living, rather than a minimum, wage for
all - including pensioners.
The EU must work towards a shorter working week,
improve co-ordination of social security systems to make freedom of movement a
reality - and require member states to conduct social audits of their employment
policies,
she added.
"The UK urgently needs to change direction and invent the
kind of economy and labour market that reflects the principles of sustainable
development and social justice."
Mrs Lambert's report was welcomed
by the TUC. A spokesperson said: "Where there is proper security and equal
employment rights for flexible working, unions and employers can develop imaginative
ways of meeting staff and business need, helping to make our economy competitive
and giving workers more choice and control over their lives."
ENDS
Notes
to Editors
'Flexible
Working: A work-life balance or a balancing act?' download here
For
more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk