The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed the news that Britain is to retain its opt-out to the 48-hour working week being pushed for by the European Union (EU).
BRC business director Jane Milne said: “Keeping the freedom to decide how many hours they work is good news for British workers. Why should Brussels stop people choosing to do overtime for extra pay, particularly when personal finances are under pressure?
“Long hours are not common in retailing, indeed over 60% of staff work part-time, but retail businesses need the flexibility to be able to match staffing levels with peaks and troughs in customer demand.
“There is no right time to slap new restrictions on individuals or businesses but it would be even more wrong during a recession. The UK Government should continue to stand firm and resist any future attempts to impose this on us.”
