The TUC has welcomed indications that the European Commission is to crack down on the abuse of the UK opt out from the 48 hour average working hours ceiling. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This is very welcome news. The UK is the only EU country that allows everyone at work to sign away their working time rights, and there is wide evidence that this is no free choice for the majority of long hours workers.'

Pointing to TUC research showing many employees were being compelled to work excessive hours or were unaware of the right to refuse, he added: 'Employers argue that working more than six 8 hour days a week should be a matter of free choice, but all this research shows that too many of them simply cannot be trusted' and may 'bring unfair pressure on their staff. The only way we will start to tackle our long hours culture is to end the opt out.' The Euro move came as the TUC published a new long hours fact file making the case for ending the opt out. The European Commission's concerns where heightened following the publication of a two-year Cambridge University study which showed that 'the way (British) employers have implemented the opt-out is a very abusive one,' according to EC employment commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou.