At present, workers can decide to opt out of the 48 hour maximum working week. Three million Britons do so, according to government figures.

But amendments to the directive put forward by Alejandro Cercas, an MEP in the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, aim to remove the opt-out choice. They will be voted on by the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs today.

The amendments would ban staff from choosing to work more than 48 hours a week – whatever their personal or professional circumstances.

For example, staff in a company fighting for survival would be banned from working extra hours during an unexpected increase in demand, or from doing extra overtime in response to their own financial circumstances.

John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: “Some people want to work longer hours, some people don’t. The opt-out gives them a choice.

“These proposed amendments are misguided. In hard times, somebody may want to work extra hours to help support their family. Staff in a company that’s fighting for survival may choose to work longer hours.

“We think people can look at their own circumstances and decide if they want to work longer hours. We call this common sense, and it doesn’t need amending by Brussels.”

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