WORKERS in the North-East collectively gave away £727m last year through unpaid overtime, according to the TUC.

It said the figure, based on hours worked and statistics showing how much people earned, was the third highest in the country, while describing unpaid overtime as a “growing problem”.

But the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), which describes itself as the voice of business in the region, said it only helped to demonstrate the flexibility shown by both employers and employees in times of economic hardship, which had helped prevent further job losses. The TUC said staff in the North-East who did unpaid overtime worked an average of six hours 36 minutes each extra a week, worth £4,310 a year – an increase of £474 since 2008.

Northern TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan said: “Throughout the year workers in this region have reduced their hours, worked flexibly and accepted pay freezes or pay cuts to try and work with employers to get through the recession.

“On top of that we have also seen a significant increase in people working for nothing.

“Unpaid overtime is growing and is costing workers in the North-East thousands.

“Even in recession employers need to be conscious of the hours that people spend at work and make sure workers are healthy when the recovery starts.”

Ross Smith, head of policy and research at NECC, said: “Trade unions put these figures out every year, but in the current economic climate we should be recognising the flexibility shown by both employers and employees, which has been hugely helpful in preventing unemployment rising as fast as in previous recessions.”

Mr Smith suggested that measures taken in the private sector aimed at helping both businesses and staff through the economic downturn could well have to be transferred to the public sector to mitigate the effect of planned spending cuts.

In Yorkshire, people did unpaid overtime worth the equivalent of £4,621 last year, the TUC said – an increase of £369 on the previous year.