TUC calls for autumn bank holiday

Posted on 3 November 2008

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The Trades Union Congress has reiterated calls for a new bank holiday to be introduced during the autumn.

With a four-month gap existing between the August statutory holiday and the two-day break at Christmas, the coalition has again called for workers to be given more time off in order to help address the work/life balance.

A Community Day, to be held in October, has been proposed in order to recognise the contribution made by volunteers to society, with the TUC hoping to see its introduction from 2010.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber claimed that the government could help "cheer up" workers increasingly worried about the prospect of recession by announcing the addition of a new date to the holiday calendar.

He added: "Community Day would recognise the importance of local communities in holding society together, and celebrate that there is more to life than consumption during these difficult economic times."

There are currently eight bank holidays per year for workers in England and Wales, compared to nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland.

Category: General News

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