Two million workers to get extra eight days' paid leave

The government has finally set out its long-awaited plans to ensure that millions of workers will get paid leave for bank holidays in addition to the statutory four weeks' annual leave.

The proposals, which are set out in a consultation paper, mean that up to two million low-paid workers will benefit from an additional eight days’ holiday. Women, part-timers and minority ethnic workers are likely to gain the most.

The government plans to phase in the leave, starting with an increase from 20 to 24 days (pro rata for part-time workers) from 1 October 2007.

It is seeking views on whether the rest of the leave should be introduced in:

* a single stage from October 2008;

* a single stage from October 2009; or

* two phases, increasing to 26 days in October 2008 and 28 days from October 2009.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “The proposals will close the loophole which allowed mean bosses to force staff to take bank holidays from their annual leave. They will no longer be able to do this and all full-time employees can look forward to a minimum of 28 days’ holiday a year.”

The consultation closes on 22 September.