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   Workers could lose right for time to train
Workers right to request time off for training could be cut as part of a government review aiming to reduce the burden on businesses. Business minister John Hayes has launched a consultation on the regulation, which came into power just four months ago and applies to businesses with more than 250 employees. Under current legislation, employers are required to allow employees to have time off for training as long as it would benefit both the employee and the business and adequate staff cover was available. Should employers refuse a request, there must be written response explaining their reasons for doing so. The regulation has been critcised by business groups, which say it should be scrapped as it is time consuming and costly. However, unions argue this would undermine the economic recovery. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the results of the consultation would "feed into a review of all regulations in a bid to reduce burdens on business". The coalition government has already cut £200m from the Train to Gain budget, placing the money into apprenticeships and capital funding for colleges. The further education, skills and lifelong learning minister John 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. "We believe it is important that all regulations are properly scrutinised and we are therefore interested in hearing views on the future of this right and its role in promoting training in the workplace, which I see as vital to our economic success. "I have asked my officials to ensure that this consultation is actively promoted to ensure that we get a broad range of views." Alan Woods OBE, chief executive of Skills for Justice said: "With huge pressure on employers in our sector to deliver excellent services with limited budgets, maintaining the skills of the workforce is critical. "We will work with our employers and other partners to submit our response back to government, making sure that employer needs are at the forefront of our response." The five-week consultation on commerce will close on September 15, after which a "star panel" of ministers reviewing red tape will make a decision at its next meeting following that. It follows business secretary Vince Cable's announcement of a number of measures including a "one-in, one-out" rule for new business regulations. Source: epolitix.com Copyright Dods Parliamentary Communications
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