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Workers in England and Wales get four fewer public holidays than the EU average
  • Workers in England and Wales get four fewer public holidays than the EU average  

  • Some countries enjoy almost twice as many public holidays as the “stingy” amount given in England and Wales 

  • TUC calls on government to create a new public holiday between now and Christmas 

The TUC is today (Monday) calling on the government to create four new public holidays as workers enjoy the last long weekend of the summer. 

Workers in England and Wales get just eight bank holidays a year, which is much fewer than other countries.  

Within the UK, workers in Scotland do best with 11 public holidays this year, followed by Northern Ireland with 10. 

In the EU, every country gets more public holidays than the UK. And the EU average is 12.8 days, which is almost 5 days more than UK workers get.   

Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Cyprus top the EU table, with 15 days each – nearly twice as many public holidays as workers in England and Wales. 

Beyond Europe, workers in other major economies get more public holidays too. This year there are 17 public holidays in Japan, 12 in Australia and 11 in China and New Zealand.  

The TUC says all UK workers should get at least 12 public holidays and is calling for a national conversation about when people would like them to be.  

To make sure that no workers miss out, the union body says extra public holidays must be reflected in statutory holiday entitlement. And any workers required to work on public holidays should have the right to a pay premium or time off in lieu.  

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:  

“The August bank holiday will be a welcome break for everyone working hard to get us through the pandemic – especially those on the frontline. 

“But after August, there’s no national holiday until Christmas. And that’s because the number of holidays we get is so stingy compared to other nations. 

“A few more public holidays would be a great way to thank working Britain for getting us through these tough times. And it would level us up with other workers around the world. 

“It’s time for a national conversation – when should our new holidays be? What might they celebrate? An autumn holiday to break the long stretch to Christmas would be a good start.” 

Editors note

- Public holidays in the EU 

Country  

Days 

Country  

Days 

Country  

Days 

Austria   

13 

France   

11 

Malta  

14 

Belgium   

10 

Germany  

11 

Netherlands   

11 

Bulgaria 

14 

Greece   

12 

Poland   

13 

Croatia 

14 

Hungary   

11 

Portugal   

14 

Cyprus   

15 

Ireland   

Romania   

15 

Czech Republic   

13 

Italy 

11 

Slovakia   

15 

Denmark 

12 

Latvia 

12 

Slovenia   

15 

Estonia 

12 

Lithuania   

15 

Spain   

13 

Finland   

15 

Luxembourg   

13 

Sweden   

13 

Average   

12.8 

Sources: Official government sources; Public Holidays Global Ltd; Wikipedia 

- Public holidays in US, Australia, China and Japan: The TUC took information from: 
https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates/  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Australia 
https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html#syukujitu 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_China  

- Stronger holiday rights: The TUC is calling on government to strengthen public holiday rights. People who work bank holidays should have the right to premium pay or time off in lieu. And government should amend the working time rules to ensure that any new public holidays deliver extra time off rather than coming out of existing statutory leave entitlements. 

- About the TUC: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.   

Contacts: 

TUC press office 
media@tuc.org.uk  
020 7467 1248 

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