COMMENT
Page 6
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One in all in
Exempting owner-chivers from the proposed Working Time Directive for HGV drivers is one of the worst ideas we've heard for a long time (see page lc)). Never mind the problem of deciding who qualifies (is it really only one man with one truck?), or the fact that unscrupulous companies might be tempted to sack employed drivers in order to take advantage of unregulated owner-drivers—the industry simply can't adopt any rules governing working times that allow for a "twin-track" approach. It's bad enough taking that approach with a single currency. It would be a disaster for road transport.
As it is, hauliers will come under tremendous pressure to pay their drivers the same for working shorter hours. And employed drivers will be under similar pressure to sign away their rights to a 48-hour week, simply to earn the same money for working longer hours.
Which begs the question: If we already have rules regulating drivers' working time, why do we need any more? Whatever the outcome of the EU Transport Ministers' meeting this week, the overriding message should be that either everyone in road transport works a 48-hour week—or no one in road transport works a 48-hour week. There's no room for a half-way house.