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An announcement was made on the 11 January 2007 by the DTi that workers in the UK
are to see their minimum annual leave go up to 5.6 weeks.
The Working Time Regulations (1998) establishes statutory minimum of four weeks
paid annual leave. However, as there is no statutory right to be paid for Public Holiday's
unscrupulous employers were able to count them as part of their annual leave entitlement
following a sustained campaign by the Trade Unions. The Labour Party included a commitment
to deal with the issue in their manifest for the 2005 General Election.
This proposal will increase the statutory minimum entitlement to 5.6 weeks. This will mean
that full time workers get at least 28 days paid leave per year with a pro rota entitlement
for part time workers. The increase is scheduled to happen in two phases;
October 2007 4.8 weeks, October 2008 5.6 weeks.
The TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:"Millions of hard-working employees across
the UK have much to smile about today, and many of those who will get more time off work
will be low paid women. It is a victory for union campaigning, which has long pushed for UK
leave to be increased so that it is more in line with the holidays enjoyed by other workers
in Europe."
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