With Brexit a hot topic and the EU referendum coming on 23 June, Blandy & Blandy’s Tim Clark, a partner in the firm’s Employment Law team, was interviewed on BBC One’s Sunday Politics Show on 20 March.
Tim was discussing the EU's Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), issued as an update on earlier versions introduced in June 2000 and November 1993. The Directive gives EU workers the right to a minimum number of holidays each year, rest breaks, and rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hours; restricts excessive night work, ensure a day off after a week's work, and provides for a right to work no more than 48 hours per week.
Clark was discussing the EU's Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), issued as an update on earlier versions introduced in June 2000 and November 1993. The Directive gives EU workers the right to a minimum number of holidays each year, rest breaks, and rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hours; restricts excessive night work, ensure a day off after a week's work, and provides for a right to work no more than 48 hours per week.
He explained: “The idea behind it is it’s a health and safety issue. If people are rested they will perform better and won’t hurt themselves at work.”
“The UK government said we will do better than that, we will have 5.6 weeks paid holiday. That really means for someone working five days a week that they get 20 days plus the eight bank holidays”.
When asked what might change should the UK vote to leave the EU, Clark explained: “What you might find is that UK law would be adjusted and that some of these strange laws would disappear - they would be legislated out.”
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