Hewitt: Bank holidays added to leave

The practice of forcing low paid workers to take bank holidays as annual leave is to be ended, guaranteeing 28 days of paid holiday for every worker, Patricia Hewitt has pledged.

The trade and industry secretary unveiled the proposal as millions of workers enjoyed the final day of the Easter bank holiday weekend.

"We shouldn't forget that plenty of people will be working this weekend - staffing our hospitals, keeping the transport system running or working in shops, bars or restaurants," she said.

"Not all of them will get a paid day off in lieu. And there are also the forgotten millions people who, while they may be off these bank holidays, have these days counted as part of their annual holiday."

Hewitt said that counting bank holidays in the minimum 20 days of annual leave could leave workers with just 12 days holiday.

"That's not fair to them or to their families. So we are going to do something about it," she said.

"A third term Labour government will extend the right to four weeks paid holiday to cover the time for bank holidays as well.

"It will mean up to eight days extra holiday, every year, for over two million of workers.

"This means that, with Labour, every full time worker will be entitled to 28 days paid holiday - including the time for bank holidays."