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EU member states backed a compromise agreement which guarantees the UK's omission from the 48-hour week cap. The waiver will, however, be reviewed within eight years.
Countries opposed to UK's stance include Spain and Hungary, who issued a formal declaration emphasising their dissatisfaction with the deal.
Countries opting out of the working-time restrictions will face an overall limit of 60 hours work per week.
Many critics believe employees - 3.3 million of whom work more than 48 hours a week in the UK - are coerced into signing the waiver.
The decision must now be backed by the European parliament, which previously voted to abolish the UK opt-out.
EU policy battle lines are often based on ideological differences between those countries favouring policies aimed at social justice and those in support of economic liberalisation.
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