There's to be a phased introduction of new legislation for increased holiday entitlement for Ulster workers.

Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey welcomed the Assembly's approval this week of new regulations, which increased Northern Ireland workers' paid leave entitlement – with effect from last October.

The Minister led an Assembly debate which approved the new regulations.

He said they provide for an increase of four days from October 2007 and a further four days from April 2009.

Therefore, from April 2009, many workers will be legally entitled to a minimum of 28 days' annual leave.

Part-time workers will be entitled to a proportionate increase based on their hours of work.

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However, bank and public holidays may be included in the new entitlement but the regulations do not give workers the statutory right to take paid leave on such holidays.

Following the debate, Sir Reg said: "All good employers recognise the important role of workers in helping businesses to grow. The increase in leave entitlement will improve the work-life balance of workers and enable them to make a better contribution to business success."

The right to four weeks' paid annual leave was introduced by the Working Time Regulations (NI) 1998.

The additional entitlement is implemented through The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007. The increase comes in two phases: up from four weeks to 4.8 weeks per year from 1 October 2007, and up again from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks from 1 April 2009, all in line with equivalent increases in Great Britain.

This amounts to an increase from 20 days to 28 days per year for those who work 5 days per week (pro-rata for part-time workers). The entitlement is capped at 28 days.

See: www.delni.gov.uk/paidholidayentitlement

(BMcC)