EEC bonus bans may go
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Hours concessions expected from Ministers' talks
THE PROPOSED ban on productivity-linked bonus schemes ft drivers, set out in the draft Second Social Regulation circulate by the EEC Commission, was expected to be thrown out at thi week's Transport Ministers' meeting in Brussels. Also expecte to go was the proposed 28-day minimum annual holiday ft transport workers.
As reported on page 3, the 450km (281-mile) daily drivin limit for heavy artic and drawbar vehicle drivers is also likel to be deleted in cases when an EEC tachograph is fitted an used; and the 92-hour fortnightly limit on driving was als expected to come up for abolition.
It was also anticipated that a compromise would be reache on Britain's request for a two-year deferment of the eight-hou driving day. One way of implementing any concession would b to insert the necessary amendment of EEC Regulation 543/6 into the draft Regulation by which the Community members ar due to ratify the AETR convention (on international ma transport conditions) en masse. If AETR (already signed by IA, Germany) were to be EEC-ratified without this amendment, i would " freeze" the hours rules.
Another device could b deployed to give Britain mor time to accept the eight-hou driving day. Article 135 of th Treaty of Accession could b invoked by the Commission i very strong feeling in favou of a concession were to b, expressed by the Council o Ministers.
If Britain's bid to delay th introduction of the eight-hou driving rules fails, there woul( seem to be no alternative introducing the necessarâ– enforcement re gu 1 at ionl through Parliament early nex year. As recorded in C14 November 7, Dr Gilbert ha already been given powers, it a Designation Order, to intro duce regulations.
What would happen once th( police were empowered t( enforce the eight-hours law it Britain? It appears that th( DoE would publish guidanc( booklets for the transpor industry and that there woulc be no rigid enforcement for period of, say, three months The possibility of bonus pay. merits linked to tonnage anc distance being allowed to con. tinue seems conditional or certain safeguards relating tc road safety being adopted but the intended ban on such bonus schemes has been strong]) opposed, notably by the Britisi' trade associations.
Another outcome hoped fo from this week's Council meet ing in Brussels was tha national governments would b granted power to make deroga tions—that is, to depart fro strict interpretation of certai regulations.
A report of the EEC Counci meeting will be published i CM next week.