16th January 2007

300,000 WORKERS IN WALES SET TO BENEFIT FROM EXTRA HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT

Under new proposals published by the Government, 300,000 workers in Wales will benefit from increased workers' holiday entitlement from 20 days per year to 28. This is 20% of Wales' overall workforce.

New research has shown that up to six million workers in the Great Britain would benefit from an extra eight days holiday each year under the plans. The groups standing to benefit most from the changes are vulnerable workers including women, part-time workers, low-paid workers and workers from minority ethnic communities.

MARTYN JONES MP said:

"People work hard and they deserve a decent break. We want to make sure everyone gets the holiday they are entitled to."

"These proposals will ensure the 300,000 workers in Wales, particularly some of our most vulnerable workers, will no longer be discriminated against when it comes to holidays."

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is launching a second public consultation on the implementation of the changes. Statutory annual leave entitlement would be increased in two stages, rising from 20 to 24 days on 1st October 2007 (pro rata for part-timers), and from 24 to 28 days on 1st October 2008.