Fears that staff 'right to train' will be watered down as government launches new consultation

Skills minister John Hayes has launched a consultation on the future of the right of employees to request time off work for training, which only took effect on 6 April.

It allows workers in businesses with more than 250 employees, but is due to be extended to small and medium-sized firms from 2011.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the consultation was part of a review of all regulations in a bid to reduce burdens on business. 

Hayes, said: “Before we make any decisions about the future of the right to request time to train, it is important that we gauge views of the regulation and whether it is improving training opportunities for employees.”

The consultation www.bis.gov.uk/time-to-train  will close on September 15. 
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the right had “opened new doors for workers to get the skills they need to further their careers”.

He added: “We are concerned that this latest consultation will simply weaken the right as a favour to business organisations who consider support to train staff as nothing more than burdensome red tape.”