After years of deadlock, employment ministers in the European Union reached an agreement Monday on rules concerning working time and temporary workers. The agreement came after the 27 voting members established a qualifying majority for approval of the new measures that will impact millions of European workers and employers. At issue in the votes were common rules for allowing a work week of over 48 hours and the rights of workers from temporary agencies. Breaking a stalemate Efforts to revise EU working time rules had stalled since November 2006 over opt-outs from a 48-hour weekly maximum, especially in Britain, which championed the cause of loose rules. "We believe flexibility and choice is important for our economy and for workers themselves," said British Employment Minister Pat McFadden as he arrived for ministerial talks in Luxembourg.
The agreement came after the 27 voting members established a qualifying majority for approval of the new measures that will impact millions of European workers and employers. At issue in the votes were common rules for allowing a work week of over 48 hours and the rights of workers from temporary agencies.
Breaking a stalemate
Efforts to revise EU working time rules had stalled since November 2006 over opt-outs from a 48-hour weekly maximum, especially in Britain, which championed the cause of loose rules.
"We believe flexibility and choice is important for our economy and for workers themselves," said British Employment Minister Pat McFadden as he arrived for ministerial talks in Luxembourg.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - After four years of failed talks and compromise proposals, Europe's 27 member states have made a breakthrough deal on two controversial bills - one setting health and safety limits on working time, and another determining pay and social rights for agency workers. EU social and employment ministers agreed on a compromise produced by the bloc's Slovenian presidency in the early hours of Tuesday morning (10 June). The compromise package was based on work of the six EU countries previously dealing with the reforms. "We have overcome a period of stagnation in the area of the labour market. And we can give a new impetus to social Europe," commented EU social affairs commissioner Vladimir Spidla after several hours of tough talks. Concerning temporary or "temp" workers - estimated at around 8 million people in the EU - the ministerial meeting agreed to give them the same pay and social rights as permanent employees from the first day they start work.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - After four years of failed talks and compromise proposals, Europe's 27 member states have made a breakthrough deal on two controversial bills - one setting health and safety limits on working time, and another determining pay and social rights for agency workers.
EU social and employment ministers agreed on a compromise produced by the bloc's Slovenian presidency in the early hours of Tuesday morning (10 June). The compromise package was based on work of the six EU countries previously dealing with the reforms.
"We have overcome a period of stagnation in the area of the labour market. And we can give a new impetus to social Europe," commented EU social affairs commissioner Vladimir Spidla after several hours of tough talks.
Concerning temporary or "temp" workers - estimated at around 8 million people in the EU - the ministerial meeting agreed to give them the same pay and social rights as permanent employees from the first day they start work.
On the tube we get to watch a group of typical Arkies setting around a restaurant table asking each other: "Do you have a good CSEP, (Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness), plan?" They then go on to describe the elements of such a plan.
Makes me glad I live about 200 miles north west of the Arsenal. Even so the wind does blow from the south often enough. What is life without a little excitement? As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
