Brussels, 30/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 29 April, the European Commission took Denmark to task again for failing to respect the right of workers to take their minimum paid annual leave in the same year in which it was accrued.
After having sent a letter of formal notice in September 2014, the Commission, on this occasion, sent the Danish authorities a reasoned opinion because it is not satisfied with the response it received in November 2014. In a press release, the Commission indicated that in Denmark national rules provide that annual leave has to be taken in the 'holiday year' following 'the qualification year'. For certain workers, such as those newly entering the Danish labour market and those with fixed-term contracts, this means that they cannot take any annual leave in the first year of employment or at all while employed. This is contrary to the fundamental EU social right to minimum paid annual leave (directive 2003/88/EC). (Jan Kordys)