Self employed owner-drivers avoid regulations from the Working Time Directive

The European Parliament’s Transport Committee have rejected a fresh proposal to include owner drivers working under the Working Time Directive, creating further setbacks. This directive has been under review since last year, being led by the Employment Committee.

MEP Said El Khadraoui presented the Transport Committee as it voted on proposals on Wednesday. El Khadraoui is the Transport Committee’s rapporteur or sponsor.

He proposed extending LGV / HGV drivers’ hours to business vehicle under 3.5 tonnes, setting up a European exchange system for working time data as well as including self-employed drivers.

Opinion on his draft was split 20-20 in the vote, plus one abstention. Because of this El Khadraoui wagered to withdraw his report.

The European Comission has been at battle stations with many MEPs since last year as the introduction of the Road Transport Directive, agreed in 2005, was dependent on self-employed people working in LGV / HGV driving being granted a derogation until March 2009.

The EC have said that it is now impractical to police self employed drivers’ working time. Instead, it wants to focus on those working under false self-employed status, those who aren’t free to organise their own work and whose income doesn’t solely rely on profits made.