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The 48-hour week might be scrapped by the UK authorities below reported plans to tear up key working protections following Brexit.
The weekly cap on working hours is about to be ditched together with different protections enshrined in EU regulation as a part of an overhaul of labour guidelines, in keeping with the Financial Times.
Labour described the reported plan as a “disgrace” and warned it might battle any such strikes “tooth and nail,” but the government denied it would water down labour protections.
No 10 is said to have given the go-ahead for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) to draw up a package of deregulatory measures.
The 48-hour working week — known as the EU working time directive — was designed by the European Commission to protect workers rights by putting a limit on the amount of hours that can be worked and mandating how long breaks can be.
The policy is thought to be the main target for UK regulatory divergence from the EU by No 10. But any changes to labour market conditions could incur the wrath of Brussels who may seek redress through the post-Brexit trade deal.
Any potential changes to employment rights would also put the government on a direct collision course with trade unions.
Labour’s shadow business secretary, Ed Miliband, said ministers were “preparing to take a sledgehammer to workers’ rights”.
He added: “These proposals aren’t about slicing purple tape for companies however ripping up very important rights for employees. People are already deeply nervous about their jobs and well being. It’s a shame the federal government is contemplating forcing them to work longer hours or lose paid holidays.
But enterprise secretary Kwasi Kwarteng denied there have been plans to water down employee protections.
He tweeted: “We are not going to lower the standards of workers’ rights. The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world – going further than the EU in many areas.
“We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights going forward, not row back on them.”
Beis has been approached by The Independent for further comment.
The authorities has beforehand dismissed fears it might search to slash employees’ rights after Brexit, with Mr Kwarteng insisting in 2019 that such options have been “exaggerated”.
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