Government faces legal challenge

The European Commission is prepared to take action against the UK government over its failure to implement core aspects of the working time directive.

The Working Time Regulations 1998 gave individual workers the right to choose not to take their proper breaks or full holidays. As a result, according to the professional and managers' union AMICUS-MSF there is a strong view that many workers are not exercising their rights due to pressure by their employers.

The union has also complained about the fact that the UK regulations provide for no method of counting time worked voluntarily above a workers' contractual hours and that the UK law excludes night shift overtime in counting normal hours of work towards the 48 hour maximum.

The UK government was given until 21 May 2002 to respond to the Commission.