Sussex Enterprise today warned scrapping a clause which allows staff to work more than 48 hours a week would "punish business".

The European Parliament last week voted in favour of phasing out the clause from the Working Time Directive which was designed to protect workers' rights.

Unions, who say employers are using the clause to put pressure on staff to work longer hours, have welcomed the decision as progressive.

The European Commission will be consulting a number of bodies on different aspects of the directive before making any decisions.

But Sussex Enterprise, the county's biggest business support organisation, said the parliament's vote had caused alarm in the business community.

Chief executive Mark Froud said it would lead to restrictions on the economy, making it increasingly difficult for companies to recruit the staff they needed.

He said: "Hundreds of people across Sussex will be prevented from working overtime. This will punish both employers and employees and trigger a huge increase in bureaucracy.

"If Sussex wants to compete with other regions in global markets then we should be looking to make our economy more flexible, not less.

"To lose the 'opt-out' clause would be to take a step back for European economic growth.

"Sussex Enterprise is working hard to defend the interests of Sussex businesses and retain the opt-out of a 48-hour maximum working week."

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the parliament's decision was a "step forward for working people".

He said: "Excessive working hours are no recipe for a healthy, productive workforce. It's about time the Confederation of British Industry and other employers' organisations faced up to that.

"There is still far too much abuse of the opt-out clause, with workers being forced to sign away their leisure time.

"We hope this vote will remedy some of those worst excesses."

Thursday February 19, 2004