NORTH-EAST Euro MP Stephen Hughes has called for an investigation into holiday pay entitlement.

Mr Hughes said many workers in the region were not receiving the holiday pay prom-ised to them by the EU working time directive.

The directive, which came into force in this country last autumn, says everyone should get four weeks paid annual leave.

But Mr Hughes said many people had been in touch with him to say they were not receiving any.

One constituent, Phillip Halton, of Woodham Village, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said he thought he was entitled to holiday pay after doing casual work for 13 weeks, but his employer disagreed.

Mr Halton said: "I built up a 13-week accrual, but one thing that has come to light is that employers don't seem to want to pay this holiday entitlement.

"The law actually seems to discriminate against the people that it was intended to benefit, including people like myself who do casual work."

Paul Nowak, Northern regional secretary of the TUC, said there were a lot of grey areas which needed sorting out.

He said: "It's an extremely important piece of legislation which the Government has introduced.

"We just think it's an example of conceding too much ground to employers and having too many opt-out clauses, making it too complex, unenforceable and unworkable."

Speaking from Strasbourg, Mr Hughes said: "I would like to hear from those constituents who are currently not receiving this entitlement. The Commission has indicated a willingness to investigate and I will keep the spotlight on those unscrupulous employers who are flouting the law.