Fresh row over UK's long working hours

The Government tonight pledged to "stand firm" to maintain an opt-out to the Working Time Directive after a committee of Euro MPs, including a Labour member, voted to scrap it.

The move by the employment and social affairs committee of the European Parliament sparked a fresh row between business leaders and unions in the UK over the directive, which aims to limit the working week to 48 hours.

Union officials said it was a "significant" blow against the UK's long hours ... (69 more words)

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