More than 41 million EU workers unable to afford a holiday
A growing number of workers across the European Union are unable to afford even a short summer holiday, as the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) warns of deepening inequality and rising working poverty.
According to a recent ETUC report, over 41.5 million low-paid workers in the EU were unable to take a holiday by the end of 2023 — an increase of more than 1 million in just one year. The report highlights a paradox: millions of people are working full-time jobs, yet remain unable to access basic leisure time due to financial strain.
In 2022, the number of workers who reported being unable to afford a holiday stood at 40.5 million. That figure rose to 41.57 million by the end of 2023 — a 2.6% increase, or over one million additional people trapped in what is being called “holiday poverty.”
ETUC: Inequality Turning Holidays into a Luxury
“This further shameful increase in holiday-related poverty puts the onus on politicians to act — once they return from their own summer breaks,” said Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the ETUC.
Lynch described the inability to afford rest as “a basic injustice,” stating:
“After working hard all year, it is the least that workers should expect. Holidays must not become a luxury for the privileged few.”
She sharply criticized Europe’s growing wealth gap, pointing out that while workers continue to struggle, corporate profits and CEO pay have skyrocketed.
“Dividends have risen 13 times faster than wages, and CEOs are earning over 100 times more than the average worker. This is a clear sign that our social contract is collapsing,” Lynch added.
Working Yet Poor
The findings underscore a recurring crisis of ‘working poverty’ — a condition in which employment is no longer enough to guarantee a decent standard of living. This trend has been flagged by Eurostat in previous years, but the latest data paints an increasingly alarming picture of a European workforce under pressure.
Basic rights such as rest, recovery, and quality of life — which should be accessible to all — are increasingly out of reach for millions, especially in southern and eastern EU states, where wages remain lower and living costs continue to rise.
A European Issue with Local Relevance
While this is a Europe-wide crisis, the impact is especially relevant to border regions, minorities, and low-income families — including communities in Western Thrace and northern Greece, where seasonal work, inflation, and low pay are putting more people at risk of falling behind.
