European Union Drafts 48-Hour Work Week for Truck Drivers
The commission's decision to propose legislation in this area represents a major policy shift. Transport workers originally were exempt from the so-called 48-hour "working time directive," which went into effect for all other workers Oct. 1.
The decision to reverse course came after negotiations between European truck driver unions and employers failed to come up with a plan for a shorter work week demanded by drivers. Those talks broke down in late September. The EU's transport commissioner, Neil Kinnock said he "deplored" the failure to reach an agreement, and promised swift action.
"The social partners have passed up an important opportunity to resolve the key issues that have provoked uncertainty and unrest in the sector," Mr. Kinnock said in a joint written statement with the EU's employment and social affairs commissioner, Padraig Flynn. "The commission will now rapidly prepare proposals for legislation."
That could mean there will be some flexibility in the rules. Before the talks broke down, both sides agreed that a driver could work up to 60 hours in a given week, so long as the four-month average did not exceed 48 hours.
The EU directive will include nondriving tasks, such as loading and unloading time, as part of the 48-hour limit. That was one of the issues that led to the breakdown in negotiations.
According to the commissioners' statement, owner operators will come under the regulation, which will mark the first time the self-employed in any industry have been included in the working time directive.
Britain's Freight Transport Assn., which has been the most vocal critic of the 48-hour rule, says the directive will result in a 20% loss in productivity and an increase in wage costs of as much as 35%.
Once published, it will take several years for the directive to become law. The proposal will require the approval of the EU's Ministers of Transport Committee, and a majority of the 15 EU member states.
