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MEPs call for WTD to INIMMI
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include self-employed
By Keith Nuthall THE EUROPEAN Parliament has called upon the European Commission to propose reforms to the European Union's (EU) Working Time Directive so that self-employed drivers are included from March 2009.
In a detailed motion. MEPs claimed the existing exemption from the rules for selfemployed drivers was being commonly abused. They noted -the importance of addressing the industry malpractice of classifying many employees falsely as self-employed drivers".
The parliament claimed there was a "general view in the transport sector that self-employed drivers should be included" within EU working time legislation. And it added that under the existing system it would be extremely difficult from a legal point of view to identify and pursue 'bogus' self-employed workers, not to mention the practical and bureaucratic difficulties [required] to prevent this concept from being widely exploited to evade the restrictions on working days".
As a result, the motion recommended that the directive's -scope is extended to include self-employed workers" by March 23 next year an ambitious target given the EU's generally slow decision making.
Green Party MEP Mary Lou McDonald said: "Compliance with rules for driving, working time and rest periods are basic requirements for ensuring road safety and the health and safety of drivers and passengers."