Oil & Gas UK welcomes definitive ruling on Working Time Directive

The Court of Session, Scotland’s senior court, ruled that time off work received by UK offshore oil and gas workers more than meets the minimum legal amount of required annual leave, a large victory for offshore employers.

“The Court of Sessions’ definitive ruling that rotas worked in the UK offshore oil and gas industry more than meet the requirements of the Working Time Directive is welcome,” said Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive Malcolm Webb.

Working patterns typically entitle offshore workers to more than 26 weeks per year away from work, Mr Webb added.

The latest decision is consistent with an earlier ruling from the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Oil & Gas UK hope that both sides can abide by the Court of Sessions decision. Nonetheless, Oil & Gas UK is prepared to fight on.

“If needs be, Oil & Gas UK will oppose any further appeal by the unions to the UK Supreme Court,” Mr Webb said.