Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament calling for an end to the opt-out from the revised Working Time Directive.

This is a massive blow to Gordon Brown's government which had tried to keep the UK's opt-out from European rules which stop people being forced to work excessively long hours. TUC figures show that one in ten people in employment in Wales work longer than the 48 hour working week dealt with in the directive.

MEPs voted by 421 votes to 273 votes in favour of ending the opt-out after three years. Ms Evans has long campaigned on the side of workers in Wales and against them being forced to work long hours, the majority unpaid.

Speaking after the vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Plaid MEP said:

"I'm delighted that we've been able to achieve this outcome which will help bring an end to people being forced to work dangerously long hours. I hope that Gordon Brown will accept that he's lost the argument and adopt improved working time legislation as soon as possible. There is some suggestion that the UK Government might try to drag this out even longer, which would be a terrible mistake.

"The new law would allow people to sometimes work longer than 48 hours a week if good reasons exist, but which will help end the deliberate exploitation of workers by unscrupulous employers.

"These measures are good for employees and employers and I believe that they would benefit our economy. If someone is overworked, tired and stressed then they will not be at their best, and mistakes and accidents can happen. This is in essence a piece of health and safety legislation which we should have adopted years ago, and which well be of benefit to workers in Wales and across the EU."

Diwedd/Ends.