The
EU Working Time Directive will apply to workers in transport, offshore oil and
gas production, and sea fishing for the first time from today (August 1).
These
groups of workers in the UK had previously been exempt from the directive,
which limits working time to 48 hours a week and came into force in the UK in
1998.
Workers
in these industries will be able to use the UK’s opt-out from the directive and
work beyond the 48-hour limit if they choose to.
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The
UK’s opt-out concession is currently under review by the European Commission.