Tuesday, 5th May 2009
Letter for publication on working time directive
Dear Sir,
There fewer greater injustices than unemployment, yet Labour MEPs continue to make it more difficult for businesses - large and small - to employ people.
Not only did Labour MEPs back the Agency Workers Directive, which the CBI estimated would cost up to 250,000 jobs, they have also led a campaign to limit your working hours by scrapping our opt-out of the Working Time Directive.
Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs wanted Brussels to dictate how many hours you are allowed to work. Conservatives have fought for your freedom to choose.
It should never be the place of the European Parliament to tell people they cannot work - particularly during an economic downturn. Scrapping our Working Time opt-out is even more nonsensical in today's economic climate than ever before. I wholeheartedly support the need to protect workers’ rights. The EU has no right to stop someone from working hard, in order to put food on their table.
If re-elected on June 4th, I pledge to continue my fight in favour of our opt-out. Will all Labour candidates finally join both me and their own government in supporting the rights of British workers to decide their own hours?
Yours faithfully,
STRUAN STEVENSON, MEP
The European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
B-1047
Brussels
