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MEPs vote to scrap work opt-out MEPs vote to scrap work opt-out
(19 minutes later)
Euro MPs have voted in favour of ending the UK's opt-out from laws limiting the working week to 48 hours.Euro MPs have voted in favour of ending the UK's opt-out from laws limiting the working week to 48 hours.
The vote puts the EU on a collision course with the British government, which wants to keep to the opt-out. The vote puts the EU on a collision course with the UK government, which is determined to keep the opt-out.
If the EU manages to persuade the UK to scrap the opt-out it would end for British workers in three years time. If the EU manages to persuade Britain to abide by the wishes of MEPs the opt-out would be scrapped for British workers in three years time.
Some Labour MEPs are thought to have voted to end the opt-out, which unions want scrapped, against the wishes of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The majority of Labour MEPs voted to end the opt-out in defiance of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
MEPs voted in favour of scrapping it by 421 to 273.
Thousands of trade union members marched on the European Parliament to urge an end to the opt-out, ahead of the vote.
And leaders of the UK's biggest union, Unite, urged British MEPs to "stop the UK's long hours culture".
'Obstruction'
But on Monday Business minister Pat McFadden told the BBC it would be a mistake to end the opt-out during an economic downturn when people might need to work extra hours.
The exemption from the working time directive was negotiated by the Conservative government in 1993 and is used to some extent by other member states, for members of the medical profession for example, although the UK is the only country which has opted-out of it altogether.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat MEPs say the opt-out should continue but Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans said she would vote against it and the Green Party's two British MEPs are also against it.
Open Europe, which campaigns for EU reform, estimated ending it in 2011 - as some MEPs want - would cost the UK economy between £47.4bn and £66.45bn by 2020.
CBI deputy director general John Cridland said European Parliament amendments which would stop people being able to choose to work more than 48 hours would "replace opportunity with obstruction".
"If your partner has lost their job, should Brussels stop you from putting in extra overtime to support your family?," he said.
But the unions argue it is a health and safety issue.
Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said: "Tired, overstretched workers are not productive workers and are putting themselves and others at risk, such as in the transport industry where we know, for instance, that tired drivers are more dangerous than drunk drivers."