MEPs will vote on Wednesday on whether Britain should be allowed to opt out proposed legislation which enforces a maximum 48-hour working week.

The European Parliament begins debating the 15-year-old European Working Time Directive today in Strasbourg on whether Britain should be allowed to retain the right to work more than 48 hours. The British government agreed a compromise in return for agreeing equal pay and conditions for temporary workers.

MEPs will take a full vote on Wednesday which could force the European Parliament, Commission and Council of Ministers to reach a new deal by February.

The opt-out could then be  scrapped in 2012, leaving hundreds of thousands of Britons working illegally long hours.