Operators will be required to give staff a minimum of 24 days' holiday from October, rising to 28 days in April 2009. The Government has published new regulations to increase the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year. Jim Fitzpatrick, DTI Employment Relations Minister, says: "Businesses will benefit too - from reduced absenteeism and a workforce who are more motivated and productive."
Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says the changes are not unexpected
because they were part of Labour's manifesto at the last general election: "We belive this will bring the statutory minimum in line with what most of our members are offering anyway because they offer 20 days plus the bank holidays." He adds that what the RHA wants to avoid is a situation where the UK follows the footsteps of other European countries with well over 30 statutory days.
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