Brussels, 29/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Patrick Itschert, Deputy Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), has said that he is “prepared to negotiate” a revision of the working time directive. However, he has stressed that “this revision should focus on all of the problematic points”. He added that “the ETUC will very soon see whether there are any real prospects for negotiations”. Patrick Itschert was speaking at the meeting of the executive committee of the ETUC in Brussels on Wednesday 29 June.
The executive committee confirmed the approval it gave in March of this year for the negotiations. This green light relates to an ambitious reform of the directive, tackling all sensitive issues. The ETUC highlights the need to use the objectives of the health and safety of workers. The approach should also be a well-balanced one.
Readers may recall that on 10 June of this year, the European employers' association, BusinessEurope, made a proposal to the ETUC to negotiate the working time directive (EUROPE 10397). (G.B./transl.fl)