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UK workers 'get least paid leave' UK workers 'get least paid leave'
(about 3 hours later)
The UK is set to stay at the bottom of the league for holiday entitlement in the European Union even after a rise to 28 days in April 2009, a survey warns.The UK is set to stay at the bottom of the league for holiday entitlement in the European Union even after a rise to 28 days in April 2009, a survey warns.
A change in EU rules means the UK will have to stop including eight public holidays in the EU's 20-day minimum. A change in EU rules means the UK will have to stop counting its eight public holidays towards the EU 20-day minimum.
But Incomes Data Services says the UK will still lag entitlement elsewhere, which ranges from 28-29 days in the Netherlands to 39.5 days in Denmark.But Incomes Data Services says the UK will still lag entitlement elsewhere, which ranges from 28-29 days in the Netherlands to 39.5 days in Denmark.
The TUC says six million workers will benefit from the rise in paid leave.The TUC says six million workers will benefit from the rise in paid leave.
ANNUAL LEAVE Denmark 39.5Austria 38Sweden 36Slovakia 35Luxembourg 35France 35Germany 34-39Portugal 34Czech Republic 33Slovenia 33Italy 32Spain 32Greece 32Poland 31Finland 31Bulgaria 31Belgium 30Hungary 30Romania 30Ireland 29Netherlands 28-29UK 28 Source: Incomes Data ServicesANNUAL LEAVE Denmark 39.5Austria 38Sweden 36Slovakia 35Luxembourg 35France 35Germany 34-39Portugal 34Czech Republic 33Slovenia 33Italy 32Spain 32Greece 32Poland 31Finland 31Bulgaria 31Belgium 30Hungary 30Romania 30Ireland 29Netherlands 28-29UK 28 Source: Incomes Data Services
The UK entitlement will be raised in two stages, initially going up to 24 days from October 2007.The UK entitlement will be raised in two stages, initially going up to 24 days from October 2007.
"The new regulations are clearly aimed at preventing the practice of including the current eight bank holidays in the minimum entitlement - whereby some employees effectively got just 12 days' annual leave," said Ken Mulkearn, Editor of IDS Pay Report."The new regulations are clearly aimed at preventing the practice of including the current eight bank holidays in the minimum entitlement - whereby some employees effectively got just 12 days' annual leave," said Ken Mulkearn, Editor of IDS Pay Report.
However, even though they will get more paid holiday, UK full-time workers will still not have any legal right to avoid working on a public holiday if their employer wants them to.
The EU's Working Time Directive gives workers in all member states a minimum of 20 days paid leave.The EU's Working Time Directive gives workers in all member states a minimum of 20 days paid leave.
Despite being bottom of the EU holiday league, the UK is still well ahead of many other developed nations.Despite being bottom of the EU holiday league, the UK is still well ahead of many other developed nations.
In Canada and Japan, workers are guaranteed only 10 days of paid leave per year while the USA does not have any legal minimum for paid leave.In Canada and Japan, workers are guaranteed only 10 days of paid leave per year while the USA does not have any legal minimum for paid leave.