Ban working week longer than 48 hours, Labour says

Tories warn that many will be ‘appalled’ at being told how to work

Kezia Dugdale has called for an outright ban on employees working more than 48 hours a week.

The Scottish Labour leader said ministers should consider removing the opt-out to an EU law that forbids staff from clocking up the long hours.

However, business leaders have warned against piling more regulation on firms, adding that removing the optout undermines employer and worker choice.

Ms Dugdale demanded a review of the working week policy as she launched her party’s industrial strategy.

Pointing to the 250,000 Scots working more than 48 hours a week, the plan said “too many people experience long working hours, job monotony, management by stress and overwork”.

Ms Dugdale said the UK and Scottish governments should consider ending current opt-outs and that this would potentially benefit thousands of workers across the country, in particular underpressure NHS staff.

Labour said adopting the measures contained in its strategy could boost the economy by almost £45 billion.

Scottish Conservative shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said: “No one should be forced to work those kinds of hours if they don’t want to or simply can’t.

“However, many people – particularly those running their own businesses – do want to and will be appalled at the idea of Labour trying to tell them what to do.”

Alison Henderson, from Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, was sceptical of the proposal, saying she is in favour of employers and staff being able to choose their working hours.

“We want to see less regulation of business so they have the freedom to operate and manage their workforce,” she said.

However, she said it is important people do not feel they have to work longer hours against their will.

Colin Borland, from the Federation for Small Businesses, said: “Some of these measures inevitably raise questions about their practical application.”

David Watt, from the Institute of Directors Scotland, said they are against “too much government intervention”. “The IoD does not support worker exploitation but believes they should have the option to negotiate terms that suit both parties,” he said.

Ivan McKee, the SNP MSP, said the biggest contribution Labour could make to industry would be to “end their ridiculous support for the Tories’ policy of dragging Scotland and the UK out of the single market”.

“We want to see less regulation of businesses so they have the freedom to operate

Kezia Dugdale says Labour’s ideas could benefit many workers.