EMPLOYMENT ENTITLEMENT TO BANK HOLIDAYS

Early day motion 1426, tabled 12 June 2002 by David Laws (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 80 members.

That this House notes that there is at present no legal entitlement for employees to be given a day off for bank holidays and that around 17 per cent. of Britons, particularly those in low paid jobs, may have been forced to work on the recent Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday or make up the bank holiday by working on a weekend; further notes that British workers not only have no statutory right to bank holidays but also receive the lowest number of bank holidays in the European Union; and calls upon the Government to give statutory rights to employees to take bank holidays off or to take double pay or time off in lieu.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 40, Labour 35, Labour/Co-operative 5.