Haulage out of lime Directive by Sally Nash • The
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Government has pledged to limit the working hours of road transport employees at some point in the future—despite excluding transport from proposals to bring the UK into line with the EU Working Time Directive.
In a consultation paper published last week, transport was categorically ruled out of the regulations. These include introducing a 48hour maximum working week from 1999, giving workers the right to 11 consecutive hours' rest in a 24-hour period and four weeks' holiday.
However, a spokeswoman says measures for transport might differ from those in other industries. Transport is likely to be tackled in a future "daughter" directive: one of a number addressing working hours on a sectorby-sector basis. "It is on the Transport Council's agenda for discussion at its June meeting," adds the spokeswoman.
The Transport & General Workers Union says it is not surprised by the exclusion of transport from the Directive. But it would welcome a move to "bring lorry drivers into the ambit of the directive".
The Road Haulage Association warns that the road transport industry needs flexibility, and that it is already strictly regulated in terms of hours.