Millions of UK workers could lose holiday pay if Britain leaves EU, unions warn

More than 7.4 million workers have received extra paid holidays as a result of European laws, say TUC

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 (Getty)

Warnings from unions that millions of British workers could lose their right to holiday pay if the UK votes to leave the EU have sparked criticism, as rivalling arguments for and against Britain’s EU membership rage on ahead of June’s referendum.

One in four UK workers, more than 7.4 million, have received extra paid holiday rights as a result of European laws, say the Trades Union Congress (TUC), according to an analysis of ONS Labour Force Survey data.

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.

Their claims have been described as “scaremongering” from those backing the UK’s exit from the EU, who say “existing contracts will not be affected".

The Working Time Regulations (WTR) gradually implemented 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 says a quarter of the employed work force have gained 13 days more paid annual leave each on average since 1998.

They add that women have benefited most from the introduction of guaranteed paid holiday rights, raising concerns family holidays could be at particular risk in the event of a Brexit vote.

Kate Hoey, Labour MP and co-founder of the pro-Brexit organisation Grassroots Out, has lambasted the concerns saying: “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."

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “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.”