Church calls for 48-hour working week

Leaders of the Presbyterian Church of Wales have written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging the Government to end its opt-out of a European directive that limits the working week to 48 hours.

The UK has resisted pressure from the European Parliament in recent weeks to adopt the European Working Time Directive. The Government argues people should be given the option of working more hours if they want to.

Supporters of the directive argue, however, that Britain’s long-hours culture is damaging to society.

The Rev Ifan Roberts, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, voiced concern for the welfare of the 460,000 people in the UK who, according to the TUC, work more than 60 hours a week.

“The balance between work, family and social life is a matter of concern because long hours at work can be detrimental to health. The proposed change would also reduce the pressure on families,” he said.

“This debate comes at a particularly important time. The present economic situation is bound to cause tensions within families as workers come under extra pressure to work longer hours.

“Now is the time to consider changes to working practices so that conditions improve as the economy emerges from this downturn. The unregulated economy has let people down and hurt and damaged many, so there is need for change.”

Mervyn Phillips, Chair of the Church and Society Department, called for Sunday to be recognised in the directive as the preferred day of rest.

“This would not mean shut-down on Sundays but would give recognition to Sundays as special,” he said.

“Within the churches Sunday is recognised as a day for worship, rest and recreation, but it is also the case that many who do not come to church see the cultural and social importance of having Sundays as a named preferred day off work.

“While this proposal was not accepted by the European Parliament, it is a matter that the British Government has been asked to look at as part of a shift to a more considerate approach to working conditions.”

Officials from the UK and eight other countries taking advantage of the opt-out will revisit the issue in the coming weeks but the status quo is likely to remain if a deal cannot be reached.