Why do the present rules and future EU regulations not seem to apply to consultants, etc? Is it just because the law says you cannot be 'forced' to work, hence consultants are just volunteering for the graft?

I find this odd too.Also odd is the absurd system where people work the 60 hours and then only put 40 hours on the timesheet.To me this makes consultancy unmanageable because all the management information suggests everything can be done in less hours than it actually took.