Extension of right to request training scrapped

The coalition government has scrapped a provision extending the right for employees to make requests for training to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) until at least April 2015.

Under legislation passed by the previous Labour government, workers in companies with less than 250 employees would have been entitled to the same rights as those in larger organisations from April 2011 but this was postponed by the coalition government in June 2010.

A consultation of employers, professional bodies, trade unions and individuals resulted in a split over whether or not to extend the right to request. Just 36% of respondents were in favour of scrapping the legislation completely but this rose to 49% among employers and 61% among small businesses.