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Written question asked by Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 12 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. It was answered by Justin Madders (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Working Hours

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the individual opt-out agreement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 on levels of exploitation in low-paid employment.

Answer

A review of the impact of the Working Time Regulations on the UK labour market was undertaken by the Coalition Government in 2014. It found a decline since 1998 in the incidence of long-hours working despite the existence of the opt-out, and a general trend towards shorter working hours.

It also found that the vast majority of long-hours workers would not have wanted to work fewer than 48 hours per week if it meant less pay, and that long-hours working was generally more prevalent in high income and highly skilled occupations compared to lower income and medium and low-skilled occupations.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
51622
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Low pay Working hours
Legislation
Working Time Regulations 1998
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk