Crackdown on long hours

Around 770,000 more workers will be covered by the Working Time Regulations from next year. To comply with European law the government has until August 2003 to extend the regulations to cover a range of jobs and industries including junior doctors, baggage handlers, ticket inspectors, check-in staff, railway and offshore workers. The T&G general union says it will be campaigning for a reduction in hours with no loss in pay.