The right for UK workers to work overtime has been secured after ministers in Europe reached an agreement on the Working Time Directive.

The Working Time Directive only allows people to work 48 hours in seven days, but the EU Employment Council voted that the UK could keep its exemption, allowing workers to work longer if they want to.

Business secretary John Hutton said: “This is a very good deal for the UK. It provides a fair deal for works, without damaging Britain’s economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk.

“This agreement means that people remain free to earn overtime and businesses can cope during busy times.”

Ministers also made a deal on the Agency Workers Directive, which comes after the CBI and TUC signed a joint declaration last month agreeing to a 12-week qualifying period for agency workers to be given equal treatment in a given job.

“This agreement on agency working will give a fair deal for agency workers and prevent unfair undercutting of permanent staff while retaining important flexibility for businesses to hire staff for short-term seasonal contracts.”