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EU slaps Portuguese
Page 9
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BRITISH OPERATORS have long believed that lax enforcement allows drivers in some continental countries to bend the hours rules — now those accusations have been confirmed.
The Portuguese government faces legal action by the European Commission over its failure to properly police the drivers' hours rules.
The EC has given Portugal two months to show how it will increase the number of checks made on drivers' work records — failing that it will lodge charges with the Euro pean Court of Justice.
EU directives require member states to check the hours worked in at least 1% of all days worked by professional drivers, with a minimum of 15% of these checks being at the roadside and 25% at their workplaces. According to Portugal's own statistics, in recent years it has made barely a third of the required checks.
In its final warning, the EC says: "The aim of the infringed legislation is to ensure a minimum level of enforcement of drivers' hours is maintained in every member state to prevent unfair competition within the sector, improve road safety and working conditions for drivers.
"Unlike the other member states that already check above the minimum requirement. Portugal has still to meet its obligations."