European proposals to abolish Britain’s right to opt-out of the 48-hour working week have been shelved.

Ministers from Britain and eight other European allies opposed a vote at Thursday’s Council of Ministers, which would have seen Britain lose its right to automatic opt-out by 2012.

The issue is now likely to drag on into next year as no action can be taken until the ministers have voted.

The European Parliament voted to scrap Britain’s exemption from the working time directive last month.

Both prime minster Tony Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown have opposed the end of the opt-out saying it would harm Europe’s ability to compete with the USA.

Hospitality industry leaders fear a loss of the opt-out would make staff shortages in the growing sector even more acute.

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