Claims that long hours do not adversely affect workers' health
are simply wrong, says the
TUC
in a report. Those who
regularly work over 48 hours per week are at increased risk of
stress and heart disease, are more likely to drink and smoke too
much, and to have a poor diet.
Nor are workers always happy to work long hours, contrary to
claims by employers, says the
TUC
. It points to a
recent
DTI
report indicating that 58% of long-hours
workers would be happy to be limited to 48 hours per week, and that
only 34% of long hours workers had signed an opt-out.
Employers like to state that they are supporting their workers'
rights to work unlimited overtime, says the
TUC
, when
in fact 60% of long-hours workers do not get any extra pay for
their extra hours.
Nor are long hours necessary for economic success.
"The truth is that long hours actually impede productivity,"
says the report. "Long-hours workers become fatigued, which leads
to lower output per hour, a decline in the quality of work and more
mistakes."
At present the
UK
is only tenth in the
EU
- 15 in terms of productivity per hour – despite
working the longest hours. The solution is not more hours of work,
but more investment, training and better organisation, says the
TUC
.
The report has been published shortly before
EU
employment ministers meet on 2nd June to discuss proposed changes
to the Working Time Directive.
Controversially, considering the proposals earlier this month,
MEP
s voted to scrap the right of workers to opt-out of
the maximum 48-hour working week set by the Directive, prompting
anger from business leaders and praise from trades unions.
That decision rejected the proposal put forward by the European
Commission in September, which would have kept the right of opt-out
while tightening the conditions for its application.
At the time, Sir Digby Jones, Director-General of Britain's
CBI
, said the
MEP
s amendments would allow
emerging economies like China and India to "walk all over us."
