Irish workers less time off than EU colleagues

THE hard-working Irish get five days less paid holidays than the average employee in Europe, a survey has revealed.

The average Irish worker is entitled to a minimum of 29 days’ holidays, including nine public holidays. Only Britain and The Netherlands, with 28 days, have less. According to research by Mercer Human Resources Consulting, Ireland is well behind the EU average of 34 days’ annual leave. Workers in Finland have the most leisure time in the EU with 39 days off. The French don’t do badly either, with 36 days’ leave on top of a 35-hour week.

The EU’s work-time directive has led to the minimum annual leave here rising from 15 to 20 days. Now the union is looking at further moves to harmonise annual leave across member states and also the prospect of a new Europe Day public holiday.