UNION bosses are calling for four extra Bank Holidays a year - with one before Christmas.

       England and Wales is "stingy" for only offering eight public holidays in 12 months, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said.

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       Union bosses are calling for four extra Bank Holidays a year Credit: Alamy

       After the August Bank Holiday comes to a close on Monday, hardworking Brits don't get another break until Christmas.

       Ms O’Grady says a new autumn bank holiday would "break the long stretch" and would help to bring the UK in line with the rest of the world.

       Japanese workers get 17 days of public holiday a year, more than double the days off given in the the UK.

       Meanwhile, Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Cyprus allow their taxpayers 15 days off.

       Ms O’Grady said: "The August bank holiday will be a welcome break for everyone working hard to get us through the pandemic – especially those on the frontline.

       "But after August, there’s no national holiday until Christmas.

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       "And that’s because the number of holidays we get is so stingy compared to other nations.

       "A few more public holidays would be a great way to thank working Britain for getting us through these tough times.

       "And it would level us up with other workers around the world.

       "It’s time for a national conversation – when should our new holidays be? What might they celebrate?

       "An autumn holiday to break the long stretch to Christmas would be a good start."

       Every EU country gets more public holidays than the UK.

       Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Cyprus give their taxpayers 15 days off - nearly double what UK workers get.

       Meanwhile, there are 17 public holidays in Japan, 12 in Australia and 11 in China and New Zealand.