A controversial directive to give workers rights to information and consultation before job losses is to be delayed until after the general election.

The decision to defer the proposals is an attempt to dodge a damaging political row about Europe and "red-tape".

The news has prompted speculation that the UK government pressurised the Swedish EU presidency to delay a vote on the directive, originally expected on March 6. UK government sources now say the debate is to be held at a May 7 or June 11 council meeting.

The news emerges as the German cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft legislation, signalling a formal end to German support for the British and Irish opposition to the directive. Without Germany's support, the UK would now lose a QMV vote on the proposals.

Government sources claim that the delay is nothing to do with political pressure, claiming that the agendas of council meetings "are Swedish business".

But Germany's shift on the directive and the UK government's sensitivity do appear to have prompted the delay.

A draft provisional agenda for the March 6 meeting, issued by the presidency on January 13 and still displayed on the presidency website, lists the directive as item number three.

"Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community - Political agreement on a common position," reads the, now amended, draft agenda.

This is the second time that a vote on the directive has been delayed. Last December's delay prompted the European Trade Union Congress to state that the discussion "is to be omitted following pressures by a small minority of member states".

Carolyn Jones, director of the Institute of Employment Rights, said: "We believe that it would be a vote winner if the government stood firmly for improved information and consultation rights so that events seen at Luton and Corus need no longer be part of our industrial relations."