Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Extra holidays for up to six million workers
Six million workers in Britain were today promised up to eight extra days annual holiday with the first four coming in October this year. The extra holidays will benefit up to 3.5million women and 2.5million men.
The Government has published new regulations to boost the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year to 24 days this October, and to 28 days from April 2009.
Jim Fitzpatrick, DTI Employment Relations Minister said:
"This extra time off will make a real difference in the lives of hard-working people - a proper rest from work and more time to spend with their families and friends.
"Businesses will benefit too - from reduced absenteeism and a workforce who are more motivated and productive.
"We have listened to all parties responding in the latest consultation, and we have agreed a number of changes in the way the new holidays will be brought in."
This means:
* To encourage early implementation and simplify
arrangements for good employers who decide to offer their workers
the entitlement faster, the regulations state that those companies
who offer their workers 28 days leave or more by 1 October 2007
and meet certain other related standards will not be bound by the
new legislation, so long as they continue to meet these
standards.
* As a transitional measure, companies will be
allowed to continue to buy out the additional leave entitlement
(the four extra days) introduced from October 2007 until 1st April
2009.
* After 1st April 2009 the buyout of any of the
additional leave entitlement will cease.
* All part-time
workers will be entitled to the extra holidays pro-rata.
* The
DTI will set up an online calculator to make it simpler for
everybody to work out their new holiday entitlement
The Government's response to the latest consultation is attached.
Editors Notes
Early Implementation Incentive
Businesses which offer their
full time workers, by 1st October 2007:
* at least 28 days
leave or more;
* who allow buy out of leave only in excess of
28 days, if at all; and
* where they allow carry over of leave
between 20 and 28 days, it is only to the following year
They
will not be bound by the new legislation, so long as they continue
to meet these standards of leave provision. (These arrangements
will operate pro-rata for part timers).
1. Below is a table with the regional breakdown of the number of people that are set to benefit from this announcement:
Region Total who stand To benefit Number of people who % of workers in that stand to benefit region who will benefit North East 300,000 13 North West 800,000 21 Yorkshire & Humber 500,000 20 East Midlands 500,000 23 West Midlands 500,000 19 South West 400,000 15 East of England 500,000 17 London 800,000 23 South East 900,000 18 Wales 300,000 20 Scotland 400,000 15 Total 5,900,000 19
2. 2.6 million part-time staff (31% of part-timers) will benefit, and 3.4 million full-time workers (14% of full-timers)
3. Agegroups
16-24 1 million
25-34 1.4 million
35-44 1.6
million
45-49 0.5 million
50+ 1.5 million
4. Details of previous consultations on extending holiday entitlement can be found on: http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/holidays/index.html
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