Offshore workers' holiday entitlement addressed

Offshore construction workers have won a commitment from the government to clarify the law so that they can claim their full paid holiday entitlement under the Working Time Regulations.

Contractors had argued that these workers were not covered by the regulations because their place of work lay beyond UK territorial waters. The Amicus union said it is hoping a change in the law can be made as early as October.

Amicus regional officer Graham Tran welcomed the government's pledge as an important victory for offshore workers.

He added: "This will allow us to take forward the substantive issues affecting offshore workers' leave entitlement, including how paid leave should be taken and what constitutes working time - for example, travel to and from installations."

An employment tribunal hearing is scheduled for October on the issue of whether the regulations have been properly applied to offshore operatives.

[Contract Journal, 6 September 2006, p 5]