This view was confirmed by the results of another, unconnected, survey of 700 public and private sector employers, carried out by the Employment Lawyers' Association. Its results found that 78% of the respondents supported the retention of the opt-out from the 48-hour week and 71% believed that its removal would adversely affect their competitiveness in the UK.
Following a concerted effort to gain government backing on the issue, and a CBI lobbying document that prominently featured ECA member J Brand in a call to retain the opt-out, the Government is taking a 'firmly supportive view'. This, in turn, is backed by evidence of support for the opt-out from other EU member states.
The next step will be the publication by the European Commission of its proposals on the future of the opt-out. This is expected to be published later this year, at which stage the ECA will update members on how it proposes to respond.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
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