The war of words broke out after Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, announced this week that from April next year staff will be al located a minimum of 28 days off — a jump of eight days.

The new legislation means than anyone who currently receives less than 28 days including statutory days — an estimated 150,000 low-paid employees across Northern Ireland — will benefit.

Sir Reg said the increase in holidays will help workers "strike a better work-life balance and spend more time with family and friends".

However, the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) in Northern Ireland has warned that "all absence from work comes at a cost" and said consumers could face an increase in prices.

Stephen Alambritis, spokesman for the FSB, said: "All leave from work has to be paid for and met for by the business, by the economy, and sometimes that is met by an increase in prices which disadvantages consumers.

"It is good for workers we are not denying that.

"But all absence from work comes at a cost and has to be met and invariably this cost may be passed on to higher prices for the consumer.

"So we are urging the authorities to retain a balance on time off from work.

"It could be that any more generous time-off regulations will start to impact on the competitiveness of businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland."

Mr Alambritis added: "Let's not forget in addition to the 28

days there is time off for maternity, trade union duties and time off if there is a domestic incident or caring duties.

"Large companies can soak up the costs but for the vast majority of small business in Northern Ireland— which employ less than 20 people— they will find it very difficult to recoup the cost of extra leave just by adding to prices so it will cause difficulty for some very tiny businesses."

The Northern Ireland branch of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) this week also spoke out on the impact it could have on smaller businesses across the province.

However, Unite's deputy regional secretary for Northern Ireland, Eugene McGlone, said businesses are focusing on profit rather than what workers are entitled to.

"The businesses are only going to be moving up by four extra days. What is the big threat?" he said.

"Do they think the workers aren't entitled to this and don't need this as a benefit?

"These are questions they need to ask. It's probably to do with profit margins more than anything else."

Mr McGlone added that Northern Ireland should in fact be receiving 30 days holiday leave a year after an announcement made by the former Secretary of State Peter Hain in January 2007.

Speaking 12 months ago Mr Hain said: "The minimum statutory annual leave entitlement would be increased in two stages, rising from 20 to 24 days on October 1, 2007, and from 24 to 30 days on October 1, 2008."

Now the final four days will be introduced in April 2009.

Mr McGlone said after devolution it was announced holiday leave would go down to 28 days.

"As a trade union movement we are totally disappointed that Peter Hain announced there was going to be an increase up to 30 which would bring it in line with the Republic and slightly ahead of Britain," he said.

"We have not at this stage, as a movement, given up on the fact that there should be 30 days leave."

Your holiday entitlement

UNDER the Working Time Regulations which came into effect back in October, the statutory amount of paid holiday a worker receives is currently 24 days which includes statutory days such as public and bank holidays.

• Under the regulations, the statutory entitlement will rise again in April 2009 to 28 days per year.

• Some workers are entitled to more than the statutory amount of holiday — but this depends on their contract of employment. However, if their contract tries to give them less paid holiday than 24 days (rising to 28 days next year), the statutory entitlement will apply.

• There is no general statutory right for a worker to have leave on bank or public holidays, with or without pay.

• Bank or public holidays which the worker has off may count towards the worker's statutory holiday, unless their contract gives bank/public holidays in addition to statutory holidays.