Construction union UCATT have welcomed recent decisions that could significantly increase the holiday pay of construction workers.

Previously variable payments such as non contractual overtime, out of hours' payments and bonus payments were not included in holiday pay for those with normal contractual hours. However following decisions made at the European Court of Justice and the Supreme Court in the case of BA v Williams the courts have ruled that holiday pay should be paid at a workers normal remuneration.

A recent employment tribunal has ruled that non contractual overtime should be included in the calculation for holiday pay. However this will only apply to the minimum 4 weeks (20 days for five day working) set out in the European legislation and the 1998 Working Time Regulations. It is hoped the rule will be extended to the full 5.6 weeks (28 days for five day working) in the near future.


It is important to remember that a shortfall of holiday pay can be claimed as an unlawful deduction from earnings. Any shortfall of holiday pay over a continuous period can be regarded as a continuous period of unlawful deduction and could date back years rather than just three months under the Working Time Regulations.

However if an employer starts correctly paying holiday pay or if an employee leaves that employment they then only have three months minus a day to make a claim for unfair deduction of earnings.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Holiday pay should represent a worker’s normal pay. Employers must do the right thing and make sure that workers get the holiday pay they are entitled to."

(CD/IT)