Britain will continue to be able to opt out from the EU working time directive, it has been confirmed, after the final round of talks on the issue broke down in Brussels between the European Commission, MEPs and member states.

The UK government has refused to back down on its opt-out from the directive, which imposes a 48-hour limit on working time. A question mark has hung over the issue since a vote by MEPs in December calling for the opt-out to be abolished, but the matter seem now to have finally been put to rest after the council of ministers dropped further attempt at negotiations.

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said: “Everyone has the right to basic protection surrounding the hours that they work, but it is also important that they have the right to choose those hours.”

But as Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the media union BECTU pointed out: “Some of our members, particularly in film-making and television production, are forced to accept working arrangements in excess of 60 hours a week. If they don’t accept the terms, they don’t get the work.

“The policy makers also appear to have forgotten that the Working Time Directive is a health and safety measure. Excessive hours cost lives and damage health."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber expressed disappointment at a missed opportunity. He said: “Long hours cause stress, illness and lowers productivity.

And when many employers are moving to short-time working, the need for an opt-out of the 48 hour week is even more out of date.

“The UK government still needs to tighten the law on working time, otherwise the EU could take it to court in order to protect UK workers from abuse of the 48 hour week.”