A report from the TUC claims workers in the region receive the lowest amount of holidays in Western Europe.
It says 38,000 people in the North-East are losing out on holidays due to a loophole in the Working Time directive, while a further 21,000 are being cheated out of their entitlement by rogue employers.
As the law stands, workers in the UK are guaranteed a minimum of 20 days annual leave a year.
However, they are forced to rely on the generosity of their employer for entitlement to the UK's bank holidays, because EU regulations don't differentiate between bank holidays and annual leave.
In the North-East, 38,000 workers receive fewer than 20 days annual leave and are forced to include bank holidays as part of their entitlement. A further 21,000 receive fewer than 12 days holiday.
Kevin Curran, GMB Northern regional secretary, said: "This evidence shows that working people in the North-East receive the lowest amount of annual leave in western Europe.
"The figures in this report reveal a scandalous breach of the law by some of the region's employers, while many more are bending the law in a 'Scrooge-like' manner."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article