The UK should have four more bank holidays introduced as a thank-you to workers, union bosses have said.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) urged the Government to bring in the new holidays to bring the UK in line with other countries in Europe. Pointing out that there are no more public holidays from now until Christmas , the TUC said in a Tweet: “We work some of the longest hours in Europe. And we get the FEWEST public holidays.
“The Government should create 4 new public holidays - including 1 between now and Christmas,” they urged. Other European countries enjoy an average of 12.3 public holidays a year, with Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus having the most at 15, The Mirror reports .
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But the UK is considerably lower than this average, with England and Wales having almost half as many as some of their European neighbours with eight bank holidays in a typical year. Scotland and Northern Ireland have nine or 10, depending on the timing of New Year and their patron saint days.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Some politicians have been calling UK workers lazy but we work some of the longest hours in Europe. And we get the fewest public holidays. Instead of insulting workers, let’s show more gratitude to our nation of grafters.”
Boris Johnson rejected calls by Labour leader Keir Starmer earlier this year for an extra bank holiday to celebrate England’s Women’s Euros Win. The Government said: “The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established and while an additional holiday may benefit some, the cost to the economy is considerable.”
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