A fair deal for own-account by Karen Miles • The
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future of own-account transport looks assured following a public statement by Neil Kinnock that its drivers will continue to work the same hours as those in the hire-andreward sector.
The European Transport Commissioner's statement, made last week at a meeting of EU environment and transport ministers in Luxembourg, will be met with widespread relief by the transport divisions at UK manufacturers. They had feared that new European legislation could have made their operations uneconomic by imposing more stringent hours limits; forcing them to contract out their transport to independent hauliers.
The reprieve follows agreement by Kinnock and his social affairs colleague, Padraig Flynn, which will mean all truck drivers thoughout the EU's 15 member states will be treated the same by legislation outlining a shorter working week. For the first time this legislation, which will be drafted by Kinnock's office, will include loading and unloading time within the working hours rules.
Administrative staff in both sectors will be subject to stricter hours rules under the 48-hour week Working Time Directive.
Until Kinnock's statement, it had been feared that own-account drivers would have been subject to stricter hours than their hireand-reward counterparts. "We think own-account and hire-and-reward should be treated the same. This will ensure that drivers in both sectors cannot be exploited," says a spokeswoman for Kinnock.
The Freight Transport Association, which has been lobbying for the change, welcomes the declaration: "We're pleased that he has made that helpful statement," says Owen Thomas, head of road freight policy.
Discussions will continue in Brussels between employers and trade unions until September: legislation will be drafted by the end of the year.
In the UK around 256,000 CVs are operated by the ownaccount sector, with only 170,000 in hire-and-reward.
111 At the Luxembourg meeting ministers also agreed to push ahead with plans to increase the level of roadside checks throughout the EU.