Brussels, 23/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The members of the transport committee at the European Parliament were unable to reach a compromise on the proposal for a working time directive for workers in the road sector. With a very close vote (20 for, 20 against and one abstention), on Tuesday 23 February, they rejected the own initiative report by Socialist member Saïd El Khadraoui (Belgium) on this proposal for a directive already challenged on several occasions by the outgoing Parliament. In addition to the traditional question concerning inclusion in the text of self-employed workers (supported by the S&D Group and the rapporteur but counter to the initial European Commission proposal), was the question of extending the scope of the directive to vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes, as proposed by the EPP and ALDE groups [an idea challenged by El Khadraoui who prefers to settle the matter as part of the regulation on driving and rest time for professional drivers, (561/2006)]. The rapporteur, most of whose amendments were rejected during the vote, had himself recommended withdrawing the text and returning to the matter after it had been examined by the employment and social affairs committee, which is competent as to substance. The vote within this committee is scheduled for 28 April. The European Builders' Confederation (EBC) was delighted with the outcome of the vote. It above all considers that it is not appropriate for a directive which covers salaries to legislate on working hours of self-employed persons. Extension of the legislation to vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes would, moreover, constitute an excessive and unwarranted financial and administrative burden on the sector, the EBC states. (A.By./transl.jl)