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NI workers to benefit from eights days additional paid holiday

20 July 2007

Workers in Northern Ireland will benefit from an increase in paid holiday entitlement, under Regulations published today by the Department for Employment and Learning.

Workers could gain up to eight extra days in addition to their current statutory four weeks annual leave, with the lowest paid, women, part-timers and those from ethnic minorities gaining the most.

The increase will be implemented in two phases: from 20 days a year to 24 days from 1 October 2007 and to 28 days from 1 April 2009.

Introducing the new entitlement Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning said: “This is good news for an estimated 150,000 workers in Northern Ireland and will mean that workers will be able to strike a better work-life balance and spend more time with family and friends. Good employers also recognise that good holiday provision helps to keep people motivated and can be a key factor in recruiting and retaining staff.”

The proposal to increase paid holiday entitlement was initially announced in February 2007.  Following further consultation on the proposals a number of changes have been agreed.  These include:

  • The Department had initially proposed to increase the holiday entitlement by 10 days in Northern Ireland (pro-rata for part-time workers), as opposed to eight days in Great Britain, to reflect the number of bank and public holidays here. However, following the response to the second consultation, and to allow further consideration of the cost implications of the additional two days, it is now proposed that the minimum entitlement here will be increased initially by eight days in line with provisions in Great Britain. Further consultation and impact assessments will consider whether Northern Ireland’s additional holiday entitlement should eventually be 10 days.  
  • To encourage early implementation, employers who, by virtue of a relevant agreement in place as at 1 October 2007, provide each worker with an annual leave entitlement of 28 days or more, will not be bound by the new Regulations so long as they continue to meet certain criteria.   
  • As a transitional measure, companies will be allowed to continue to buy out the additional holiday entitlement (the four extra days) introduced from 1 October 2007 until 31 March 2009.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The right to 20 days paid annual leave was introduced by the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988. The additional entitlement will be implemented through The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.

2. The increase will be implemented in two phases: from 20 days a year to 24 days from 1 October 2007, and to 28 days from 1 April 2009, also in line with Great Britain. This will be equivalent to an increase from 4 weeks to 5.6 weeks per year. The entitlement will be capped at 28 days.

3. The early implementation incentive is applicable to businesses which offer their full time workers, by 1 October 2007

  • At least 28 days leave or more;
  • 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.

These businesses will not be bound by the new legislation so long as they continue to meet these criteria. These arrangements will operate pro-rata for part-time workers.

4. The Department will publish guidance and provide a ready-reckoner to help with holiday entitlement calculations

5. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.

6. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.