The government has stated a commitment to removing the anomaly that some, particularly the lowest paid, have to include bank holidays as part of their annual holiday entitlement.
The proposal is to increase the current statutory minimum holiday entitlement on a phased basis from four weeks to 5.6 weeks (maximum 28 days) for someone working a five day week. From October 2007 the entitlement will be increased to 4.8 weeks with increases of two days per year thereafter until 2009.
Also under consultation is whether there should be an option to carry forward the additional eight days into the next holiday year and whether there should be an option to receive pay for them instead of taking them, which is currently contrary to the Working Time Directive.