Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Working Time Regulations (Amendment)

18 October 2022 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

Employment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Peter Dowd raised concerns about working time regulations (amendment) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Mr Dowd moved to amend the Working Time Regulations 1998 to reduce the maximum working week from 48 hours to 32 hours and introduce overtime pay.
  • He cited historical examples like Ford Motor Company's transition to a five-day workweek which increased productivity without hindering economic growth.
  • Mr Dowd referenced a UK pilot programme involving 70 companies and over 3,300 workers showing improved productivity and worker well-being with a four-day workweek.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

Mr Dowd moved that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Working Time Regulations 1998, advocating for reducing the maximum working week from 48 hours per week to 32 hours and implementing overtime pay. He highlighted historical precedents like Ford Motor Company's shift to a five-day workweek which increased productivity without compromising economic growth. He cited contemporary evidence such as the ongoing UK pilot programme involving 70 companies and over 3,300 workers demonstrating improved productivity and worker well-being with no loss of pay in four-day weeks.

Other contributors (2)
  • Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

    Mr Dowd argued that the current nine-to-five workweek model is outdated, given the significant transformation of the world of work since its inception. He noted productivity gains without corresponding reductions in working hours and highlighted the positive outcomes from recent four-day week trials in Iceland and Japan. He also mentioned South Cambridgeshire District Council's plans to trial a four-day week with no pay loss for desk-based staff, illustrating that shorter workweeks improve business operations and employee well-being while potentially enhancing recruitment efforts.

  • Christopher Chope Con Christchurch

    Mr. Christopher Chope criticised the Bill presented by the hon. Member for Bootle, arguing that it would prevent people from working more than 32 hours a week, which he believes would undermine productivity and employment levels at a time of high employment and low unemployment. He pointed out that the Bill's provisions would be particularly detrimental to sectors like healthcare where there is already a staffing crisis. Mr. Chope also emphasised the origin of the Working Time Regulations from the European Union’s working time directive, which he argued was wrongly labelled as a health and safety measure when it was primarily an employment protection directive for continental Europe.

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