Category: Employment Law, Taxation and Legislation for Contractors

The introduction of working time regulations for self-employed heavy goods vehicle drivers will hinder entrepreneurship, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.

It said MEPs would set a dangerous precedent by regulating such workers if they vote in the European Parliament to restrict the hours of independent hauliers across Europe to 48 per week.

Changes to the regulations would mean that drivers not only have to include time spent on the road in their calculations, but admin, maintenance and loading as well.

At the moment, they can drive for 45 hours per week without taking into account related work activities.

The FSB suggested that the change could set a precedent for the working hours of other self-employed people and directly contradicts efforts to promote entrepreneurship, economic growth and job creation.

Tina Sommer, EU and international affairs chairman at the FSB, commented: "The freedom to manage your own time as a self-employed person is sacrosanct and must not be subjected to interference."

The FSB has previously welcomed the government's proposals to slash red tape, saying nearly a third of small businesses are hindered by rules.

Posted by Daniel Frost