Inverclyde Council workers will not get World Cup bank holiday

Workers at Inverclyde Council will not get a bank holiday to mark Scotland playing in the men's World Cup after the local authority decided to reject the idea.

It means 15 June will be a normal working day for employees in all council departments.

The additional holiday had been announced by the Scottish government earlier this year to celebrate the nation qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 28 years.

However, individual councils can decide whether to implement the holiday locally, with the majority having chosen not to, citing the cost at a time when authorities are trying to save money.

A report highlighting options available was presented to Inverclyde's policy and resources committee on Tuesday, with members deciding not to award the holiday.

Had it gone ahead then council workers who worked that day would have been entitled to double pay.

The report suggested financial implications would be about £72,000, with an additional £9,000 then going towards free school meal holiday payments for eligible carers.

It added that "while not a direct cost" the productivity losses would amount to £610,000.

An alternative proposal by the SNP suggested that schools and early years centres be closed for the day, with all other council staff given an extra day off in lieu to take later in the year.

This would result in a total cost of £47,500 to the council. However, both plans were rejected in favour of not having any holiday at all.

Scotland kick off their tournament at 02:00 on 14 June against Haiti, before playing Morocco and Brazil later in the tournament.

Four local authorities have voted in favour of the bank holiday idea so far. They are Aberdeen City, Dundee City, Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.