Millions of British workers could lose their right to holiday pay if the UK votes to leave the EU, according to a new report.
The Trades Union Congress said one in four UK workers, more than 7.4 million, have received extra paid holidays as a result of European laws.
Since 1998, when Europe guaranteed minimum paid holiday rights, a quarter of the employed work force have gained 13 days more paid annual leave each on average, the TUC’s analysis, using ONS Labour Force Survey data, found.
In the event of a Brexit vote, the TUC warns there is no guarantee paid holiday entitlements would be kept at their current level, if at all, as the government will be able to decide whether or not to keep protections derived from EU laws.
The Working Time Regulations (WTR), which implemented the EU Working Time directive (WTD), phased in minimum requirements on holiday rights. A minimum of three weeks’ paid leave was required from November 1998, and a minimum of four weeks’ paid leave was required from November 1999.
The TUC found women have benefited most since guaranteed paid holiday rights were introduced, raising concerns family holidays could be at particular risk in the event of a Brexit vote.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Millions of working people enjoyed paid holidays in their job for the first time thanks to the rights we won from Europe.
“Decent amounts of holiday pay for all is a relatively recent win, fought for by generations of trade unionists, and guaranteed by the EU. We can’t take it for granted.
“But voting to leave the EU risks the paid holidays of millions. We know that some of the biggest cheerleaders for Brexit see protections for ordinary British workers – like paid holiday – as just red tape to be binned. And we know that bad bosses are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of being able to cut workers’ hard-won entitlements.
Those backing the UK’s exit from the EU have dismissed the TUC’s concerns as “scaremongering”.
Kate Hoey, Labour MP and co-founder of the pro-Brexit organisation Grassroots Out, said: “The idea that holiday pay will be put at risk by the UK leaving the EU is scaremongering of the highest order. No existing contracts will be affected.
“The UK has consistently been European leaders with regard to improving workers’ pay and conditions and this will not change whether we remain or leave."
