Driver's week becomes hot topic
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• The length of the trucker's workng week looks set to become a political football in Brussels with the newly empowered European Parliament pressing for tougher controls.
MEPs accepted the European Commission's proposals for slashing the drivers' working week but tabled amendments making it impossible for drivers to opt out of the proposed 48-hour limit. They want operators to be required to introduce contracts which specify compliance With the proposed hours directive.
This is the European Parliament's first action in its new role as joint law-maker with the EU's national governments—in this case the 15 transport ministers.
The ministers are due to meet in June in Luxembourg to discuss the working week plans.
So far they have taken a softer line than the MEPs, with some arguing that Europe's owner-drivers should be exempt from the 48-hour limit and that employed drivers should be able to opt-out of the legislation if they wish.
The UK and Finland support exclusion for owner-drivers.
Neil Kinnock is continuing to steer the working-week proposal although he has resigned as Transport Commissioner. He favours the inclusion of self-employed drivers, fearing that operators would otherwise attempt to get round the hours legislation by sacking their drivers and bringing them back as self-employed drivers.