Paid hoilday entitlement to increase from 1 October 2007

From 1 October, many workers in Northern Ireland will benefit from an increase in paid holiday entitlement.

The Department for Employment and Learning has implemented new Regulations that increase the statutory minimum holiday entitlement from 4 weeks to 4.8 weeks, equivalent to an increase from 20 days to 24 days a year for those working 5 days a week (pro-rata for part-time workers).

A further increase, from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks (24 days to 28 days a year, pro-rata), will be implemented from 1 April 2009.

Notes to Editors:

1. The right to 4 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.
2. The increase comes in two phases: up from 20 to 24 days per annum from 1 October 2007, and up again to 28 days from 1 April 2009, all in line with equivalent increases in Great Britain. This amounts to an increase from 4 weeks to 5.6 weeks per year. The entitlement is capped at 28 days.
3. Detailed information on the new holiday entitlement is available on the Departmental website at www.delni.gov.uk/paidholidayentitlement. There are also links to tools to help calculate holiday entitlement.
4. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
5. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.