Working time regulations

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Is it normal for a contract of employment to say that by signing the contract of employment you will be opting out of the working time regulations? I thought you had to opt out separately?
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The law says you can't be sacked or treated unfairly for doing so, but unfortunately in the real world, zero hour contracts etc it is often not that straight forward.
They often do that in the food sector firms where they work long hours often on min wages and I recall someone telling me this many years ago when it first became the rule/directive re working hours as per EU laws. I think its enforceable if you sign it, otherwise what was the point
Thos that wrongly assume they will never be affected need to think again. They may not be affected becuse of the type of work they do but try workig in a food factory, care home and I guess a few other places and see what they have to say.
Thnaks
EDIT
from the horses mouth
https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours#:~:text=You cannot work more than,or 40 hours a week.
Having said that, I now work in a safety critical engineering role that manages fatigue tightly keeping track of [Max shift lengh inc travelling; time off between shifts; shift hours in a week; shifts in 14 days; shifts in 28 days; HSE fatigue & risk index].
We sign out of working hours directive as it's one more thing to track, and not the most restrictive.