The Supreme Court has rejected an employment law case brought about by oil workers who claimed they were entitled to extra holidays as they work offshore.

It was claimed by the industry time spent at home resting between two-week stints on a rig counted as holidays and the court ruled against the employees.

Malcolm Webb, chief executive of industry body Oil and Gas UK, said the group is "very pleased" with the ruling, reports BBC News.

"Time off work enjoyed by UK offshore oil and gas workers more than meets the minimum legal amount of annual leave that employers must provide their employees," he said.

Jake Molloy, of the RMT union, said members will now look to decide what action to take next following the ruling by the Supreme Court.

Last month, the coalition government announced a reform of current employment law, with 40 per cent of the investigated rules and regulations merged, scrapped or simplified as a result.