MP Welcomes New Leave Entitlement for Workers

2nd October 2007

Des Browne MP, Labour’s MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has welcomed new leave entitlement which will benefit around 400, 000 workers across Scotland and another rise in the minimum wage that will benefit 110,000 in the region from this week.

Up to six million workers across the UK, including 3.5 million women and 2.5 million men, will benefit from the extra annual leave - around 400,000 of them in Scotland. The new leave entitlement helps fulfil a Labour manifesto pledge to give an extra boost to workers who are made to take bank holidays out of their annual leave entitlement.

In addition, more than a million workers across the UK will be better off as a result of the minimum wage increases which, when combined with Working Tax Credits and other benefits, will provide a guaranteed minimum income of at least £276 a week for families with one child and one full-time worker.

Des Browne MP said:

“This is great news for the 400,000 workers in Scotland who stand to benefit from the increased holiday entitlement Labour is introducing from this week. Around 110,000 will also be better off thanks to the latest increase in the minimum wage.“

“These changes show that Labour is determined to do right by Britain’s hardworking families. Compare that to the Tories, who opposed the extra leave entitlement and the minimum wage every step of the way.”

The changes that come into effect this week will be backed up by a tough new minimum wage enforcement regime announced by the Government last month, including increased maximum fines for employers who flout the laws. Employers who do not pay the correct wages will have to repay arrears to their workers at a higher rate.

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