TUC attacks return of long hours

Unions have called for ministers to back EU proposals for new curbs on Britain's "long hours" working culture.

The TUC published an analysis of official statistics on Friday showing that an extra 180,000 people across the UK are working more than 48 hours a week than last year.

The union group claimed that the increase was larger than the general decline in long hours between 1998 and 2006.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said that UK ministers must back plans to strengthen the EU working time directive at a Brussels social affairs council meeting next week.

"After slow but steady progress over the last decade, long hours working is making its way back into Britain's workplaces," he argued.

"Employees across the UK already work the longest hours in Western Europe and the recent increase will mean lower productivity, more stress and less time to have a life outside the office with friends and family.

"When the government meets with other European ministers next week, it should side with Britain’s 25 million workers and take action to end excessive working time, rather than side with the business lobbyists who act as apologists for Britain’s long hours culture."