Thats not entirely true though.

Nobody HAS to sign an opt out, and if you are told you must...then they are acting incorrectly.

The EU WTD states you should not work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over 13 weeks....which is unusual and a large amount of hours for anyone to work...the opt-out is there should you wish to.

You cannot be refused a job for not signing the opt out......and if you are happy to work more than 48 hrs per week, for at least 13 weeks at a time, then fair play to ye.

I'm no fan of Brexit, but there a bit of scaremongering around Working time legislation and workers rights......they wont just disappear, and the govt wont automatically implement draconian, oliver twist type conditions........the actually EU legislation may become obsolete...but what ever replaces it, will be very similar....if not exactly the same