Duitsland steunt Brits voorstel voor versoepeling arbeidstijdenrichtlijn (en)

Germany is backing Britain in its fight to allow employees to work voluntarily more than 48 hours a week, according to the Financial Times.

UK prime minister Tony Blair and his German counterpart Gerhard Schröder have privately agreed that Britain's opt-out from a particular European Union rule should remain.

This rule, known as the working time directive, says that member states must enforce a 48-hour week.

The UK has had a decade-long exemption from the rule which it is seeking to extend.

The deal is the second between the two governments recently. Berlin also agreed to back London in blocking a move to regulate the temporary workers sector.