Text tabled : A6-0440/2008

  Simon Busuttil (PPE-DE). – (MT) I voted in favour of keeping the opt-out and I am obviously not happy or satisfied with the result of today’s vote. I have to say that I cannot accept the accusation that those who are in favour of retaining the opt-out are discriminating against workers, or that it reflects an anti-social agenda. What am I saying here? Why is one considered to be against workers when believing in the workers’ right to decide on how many hours they want to work? How can one be against workers when you simply want to see those who wish to work more in order to earn more be allowed to do so? There are those who need to make more money in order to pay off a mortgage and, thanks to today’s vote, cannot do so. I voted in favour of retaining this opt-out because I am in favour of leaving the decision in the hands of the workers.