TRAVELLING workers should be paid for the time they spend going to and from their first and last clients as commutes from home count as “working time,” the EU Court ruled yesterday.

People who do not have “a fixed or habitual place of work,” such as care assistants and tradesmen, should have their shifts paid from the time they leave or reach home.

The ruling follows claims by two Spanish companies — Tyco Integrated Security and Tyco Integrated Fire & Security Corporation Servicios — that their workers’ commutes counted as “rest periods.”

Gas workers’ and home care workers’ union GMB welcomed the judgement and claimed that its members would “feel reassured” by the court’s recognition that they should be paid for job-related travel.

“The fact that an increasing number of workers begin and finish their work transits at their home is due to a decision by a company to close their offices or restructure work practices,” said GMB Europe officer Kathleen Walker Shaw.

“It is not a choice or desire of the worker themselves and workers should not be penalised because of this or carry the burden of the employer’s choice.”

GMB and other unions will give notice at next week’s TUC Congress that they would recommend that Britain relinquish its EU membership in the upcoming referendum if these rights and protections were removed, Ms Shaw added.

“Ministers must now make plans for how this judgement is to be funded and ensure that social care employers can no longer get away with paying illegal wages,” said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.