Government announces new training legislation

Employees could soon enjoy the legal right to request time off work to train, the Government has said.

Outlining the plans, Skills Secretary, John Denham predicted that around 300,000 people a year will receive training who otherwise would not have done, with anyone who has worked for their employer for more than 26 weeks eligible.

If parliament passes the bill, it will come into force in 2010.

Currently, a third of employers do not train their staff, while eight million employees annually receive no training at all.

Mr Denham noted in the current turbulent financial times, 'investment in skills is key to ensuring we come through with a stronger economy.'

With this in mind, the Government has already announced that it will create online skills accounts for 18- to 25-year-olds looking to further their education.

However, the MP added: 'We need to find new ways to bring the drive for skills into every workplace and to every worker.'