By Greg McKevitt BBC News

Many workers in Northern Ireland could get an extra 10 days paid holiday within two years under new government plans.

At the moment, some bosses include bank holidays as part of their staff's 20-day annual leave entitlement.

Peter Hain said holiday provision makes good business sense

Under Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain's plan, employers will no longer be able to force staff to take these as part of their statutory leave.

These plans would give workers in Northern Ireland two days more holiday than those in Great Britain.

Announcing the plan, Mr Hain said "people work hard and they deserve a decent break".

"Many people, particularly the lowest paid, have to take bank and public holidays from their leave entitlement and the increase will be a significant boost for these workers," he said.

Mr Hain said "most companies already recognise that good holiday provision makes good business sense".

"Holiday entitlement can be a key factor in recruiting and retaining staff. Holidays are also important for productivity as they help minimise sick leave and keep people motivated and refreshed," he said.

NI'S 10 BANK HOLIDAYS New Year's Day St Patrick's Day Good Friday Easter Monday Early May Bank Holiday Spring Bank Holiday Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) Summer Bank Holiday Christmas Day Boxing Day

It is planned the changes will be phased in over the next two years, following a second public consultation to begin shortly.

The minimum leave entitlement would be increased in two stages, rising from 20 to 24 days on 1 October 2007. One year later, this would rise from 24 to 30 days.

In comparison with Northern Ireland's current minimum of 20 days, workers in the Irish Republic get 29 days while Austria's 38 days is the highest minimum annual leave entitlement in Europe.

Peter Bunting of the Irish Council of Trade Unions said it was "a great day for workers across Northern Ireland".

"Many mean-spirited employers were including into the minimum 20 days, the statutory days such as Christmas Day and New Year's Day, so therefore you wouldn't get any benefit from having public holidays - now you will," he said.

However, CBI Northern Ireland director Nigel Smyth said the government had "failed to take into account the costs that this will impose on the business community".

"CBI estimates this will cost Northern Ireland employers well in excess of �100m annually, once the measures have been fully implemented in October 2008," he said.

"Companies are already facing an additional �40m in costs arising from the new water charging regime being introduced over the next few years, and many are faced with rising rating bills."