How does the UK's minimum holiday provision compare with what's on offer in other countries around the world?
Statutory minimum annual leave entitlement in the UK rises from four weeks (20 days, full-time) to 4.8 weeks (24 days) from 1 October 2007. A further increase will take place in April 2009 to 5.6 weeks (28 days). Detailed advice and guidance are available on the main XpertHR service [subscription required].
This looks positively generous compared with the seven-day legal minimum apparently provided in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mexico, the 10-day allowance in Vietnam or the 14-day minimum that reportedly applies in Colombia, Ecuador, Israel, Paraguay and Peru. But a little mean compared with the 35-day allowance in Finland.
I say "apparently" and "reportedly" because the information is provided in a table on minimum vacation time around the world in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which relies on the wisdom of crowds rather than expert sourcing and scrupulous fact checking of the kind that are in daily use here at IRS and XpertHR.
Indeed a glance at the debate under the discussion tab in the Wikipedia entry cited reveals some disagreement about the details quoted for some countries.
And what does the table say about the Bahamas? Apparently Bahamians are entitled to 14 days after one year of employment, rising to 21 days after five years.
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Comments (3)
I'm afraid I have trouble feeling sorry for people living in the Bahamas. Quite apart from the amazing beaches and year-round reliable sunshine, they get 10 bank holidays in 2007, compared with only eight in the UK. Meanwhile, people in Hong Kong get a massive 15 bank holidays to add to their seven days of holiday. Admittedly the UK still comes out better in terms of days off per year but it's not quite as bad as it seems!
Posted by Emily Pattullo | August 31, 2007 11:40 AM
Posted on August 31, 2007 11:40
i work for a company that has boats registered in the the bahamas, whos law is it that we are governed by.They have offices in the channel islands so we are often old that "its guersey law" or its covered by the bahamian law. Or as we are uk residents is it uk employment law?
Posted by adam vallins | January 15, 2008 9:51 PM
Posted on January 15, 2008 21:51
Thanks for your comment Adam, but I'm afraid I can't answer your question. You need to get some legal advice based on the facts of your particular circumstances because the law can be quite complex in this area, especially as far as seafarers are concerned (assuming you are a seafarer). Good luck.
Posted by David Shepherd | January 16, 2008 11:28 AM
Posted on January 16, 2008 11:28