23 Aug 2006
INCREASING HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT - CAIRNS
The ability to spend time away from the workplace is an important component of work-life balance and can help reduce stress Scotland Office Minister David Cairns said today.
Urging businesses, trade unions and individuals across Scotland to record their views on the current Government consultation, Mr Cairns said:
"The Government launched a consultation on 13 June, seeking views on the potential benefits and impacts of increasing the statutory annual leave entitlement. We have committed to making paid leave for bank holidays additional to people's current holiday entitlement. "
"Although many employers in Scotland already give their staff bank and public holidays off, there is no statutory right to have leave on these days."
"Work is important. In Scotland alone there are 7,000 more people in work than at the same point in 2005. But the ability to spend time away from the workplace can reduce stress levels and can help us find the optimum balance between our lives at work and our lives outside of work."
"I have today written a letter to key Scottish businesses, representative bodies and others, to encourage them to record their views on the Government's proposals to increase the current statutory annual leave entitlement from 4 weeks to 5.6 weeks - equivalent to an increase from 20 days to 28 days for someone working a five-day week."
"The consultation seeks views on how we can achieve our objectives, balancing the needs of staff for time away from work with the needs of Scottish businesses for a motivated and productive workforce."
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The consultation - Increasing the holiday entitlement: an initial consultation, is available on the DTI website (