FIANNA Fail is likely to oppose the Working Time Bill in the Dail. The Bill, which is due to be published next week, will limit the time employees can work to 48 hours a week.
The Fianna Fail spokeswoman on enterprise and employment, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said yesterday the Government's decision not to allow individual workers the right to opt out of the 48 hour ceiling was a fundamental flaw in the Bill. The opt out is provided for in the EU Working Time Directive, due to come into force from November 23rd.
As Minister of State for Labour Affairs in the Fianna Fail Labour coalition, Ms O'Rourke said, she had ensured the opt out clause to protect the Irish economy and its competitiveness. She criticised her successor, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, for refusing to use it.
Ms O'Rourke said she had a strong record for defending workers' rights. "But my instincts tell me this Bill is both unrealistic and plain daft for not allowing workers who want the right to opt out.
"I would be totally opposed to employers forcing employees to work longer hours. But I have received a raft of letters, and they are all from employees, expressing their concern about their ability to pay mortgages and for schooling and other expenses if the Bill is introduced in its present form."
The Bill has also caused concern on the Fine Gael back benches. It is likely to be discussed at the next meeting of the parliamentary party on November 20th, according to the chairman, Mr Phil Hogan.
He said employer and union representatives had expressed concerns to Fine Gael deputies. However, he denied reports that some Fine Gael TDs had met the Taoiseach to express their concern.
Despite intensive lobbying by business interests, particularly in the security industry, it is thoughts unlikely that the reservations of some Fine Gael backbenchers will be enough to derail the Bill.
Ms Fitzgerald has made it clear that she is opposed to the voluntary opt out on the grounds that it goes against the partnership approach which has developed between government, unions and employers over the past nine years.
The ICTU has also made it clear that it expects the Bill to go through in its present form, and has told Ms Fitzgerald to ignored the "whingeing" of employer bodies.
The opt out clause in the directive was included largely as a concession to Britain. This has not prevented the British government from strongly resisting the implementation of the directive.
Next Tuesday, the European Court of Justice is expected to issue a judgment which will require the implementation of the directive in the UK.