Press Releases
NORTH EAST EURO MP CELEBRATES NEW DEAL FOR WORKERS
A local Euro MP is celebrating a new deal to give workers more choice if they want to earn extra money through overtime - without putting them or the public at increased risk.
"Workers will have more scope to fit their work around busy periods or, in these difficult times, to increase their hours when they need to," says Stephen Hughes.
European Parliament plans for new laws mean workers who until now had only been allowed to do an average of 48 hours per week over four months will be able to average that over a year, increasing flexibility.
But Mr. Hughes, who is the Employment and Social Affairs Socialist spokesperson in the Parliament, warns that the new legislation will be careful to safeguard health and safety.
"Not only does regularly working long hours increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stress and depression but, depending on your job, it can increase your exposure to dangers in the workplace and affect your concentration. Fatigue will potentially put you, those you work with and even the public at risk of injury or even death."
Under the new law, following an expected lengthy phase-out period, UK employers will no longer be able to ask employees to sign an 'opt out' of the average 48 hours regulations.
"Over half of people on paid overtime want to cut their hours."
"More hours, more of the time is not good for health and it doesn't even necessarily mean more money. There's evidence that where working hours have been reduced, pay has actually gone up."
"Keeping our long hours culture going doesn't help in an economic downturn. It just means the low paid remain low paid. A staggering 2.3 million people working long hours in the UK don't get paid for the overtime they do."
"Why not encourage earning more for working less for those with jobs and make room for the unemployed or people who have been made redundant to get back into the labour market."
For more information or to request an interview contact Cyndi Beaver, Media Officer for Stephen Hughes MEP on 07764198400 or 0191 3849371
Notes for Editors
Stephen Hughes is a leading campaigner in the European Parliament on Health and Safety at Work.
According to TUC figures, 71.5% of those working unpaid overtime want to work less hours and 56.6% of those on paid overtime also want to cut their hours
Where drivers' hours in the transport sector have been reduced, pay in the sector has gone up
The investigation into the Clapham Junction Railway Accident in November 1989, which killed 35 people and injured hundreds, stated the direct cause 'was undoubtedly the wrong errors made' by the electrician due to 'the constant repetition of weekend work in addition to work throughout the week which has blunted his working edge, his freshness and his concentration'. In the three months before the accident the electrician had had one day off over the entire period.
'Regularly working in excess of 48 hours per week appears to constitute a significant occupational stressor which reduces job satisfaction, increases the effects of other stressors and significantly increases the risk of mental health problems.' Anne Spurgeon, International Labour Organisation, 2003
Research on links between long hours and cardiovascular disorders from 'Working Long Hours', Health and Safety Laboratory, HSE 2002
Stephen S Hughes MEP
Room 4/38
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UR
Tel: 0191 3849371
Fax: 0191 3846100