LONDON, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- More than 1.1 million workers will be on duty across Britain on Christmas Day as most families enjoy a festive break, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), a national organization of British trade unions, said in a new report on Tuesday.
While the TUC urged people to spare a thought for staff on duty on Dec. 25, there was criticism of service sector employers who don't give workers extra compensation for working on Dec. 25.
The TUC estimated that the number of employees who work on Wednesday will be 1,104,000, an increase of 22,000 since 2016.
The TUC said bosses should reward staff fairly for the inconvenience of working on Christmas Day and for the loss of time with their loved ones.
TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "We owe a huge debt to all those working on Christmas Day. As we spend time with our loved ones, they keep Britain ticking over."
"Many on duty will be on low pay, especially in sectors like hospitality and social care. They deserve to be fairly rewarded for the essential services they provide. And people working in shops during the manic festive period should be given time off with their families."
Paddy Lillis, general secretary of Shopworkers' union Usdaw, said: "The trend for more stores to open longer over the festive period inevitably has a big impact on shopworkers' Christmas Day celebrations."
The TUC report showed that in what is likely to be a busy festive period for Britain's health service, the NHS, there will be 88,000 nurses and 55,000 nursing assistants on duty.
A large army of chefs (39,000), kitchen assistants (29,000), waiting staff (18,000) and bar staff (15,000) will also be working in hotels, pubs and restaurants.
With 440,000 on duty, care workers account for the largest group on duty on Christmas Day, followed by 143,000 hotel and restaurant staff.
