The
TUC is calling on the Government to overhaul laws on statutory pay and time off
for staff forced to work bank holidays.
The
union claims around three million workers will not receive holiday pay or be
able to take days off in lieu if they choose to have holiday over Easter.
A
TUC report shows that twice as many people will work over the Easter holidays
than Christmas with three million and 2.5 million respectively at work on Good
Friday and Easter Monday.
The
union body wants three new bank holidays introduced to bring the UK into line
with the EU average and given the choice of double pay or time off in lieu for
those working over bank holidays.
Workers
in Britain have no statutory right to holiday pay or time off if they have to
work bank holidays and the UK is the only EU country that allows employers to
count them as part of the minimum paid leave under the Working Time Directive.
Brendan
Barber, TUC general secretary elect, said bad employers were taking advantage
of the rules and that staff should not be left out of pocket for working over
Easter.
