New employment rules will allow workers to ask for time to train

New regulations, which will give employees the right to ask for time in which to train, could be in place by 2010. The government has launched a consultation on the rules to find out how best they can be implemented. It is believed that the new right would operate in the same way as the right to request flexible working currently does. [more]

The government has been urged to use the rise in tax revenues from

The government has been urged to use the rise in tax revenues from North Sea oil to cut fuel duty. The Federation of Small Businesses said arecent poll indicated that the soaring cost of oil is now hampering the ability of many small firms to grow and develop. One way of softening the impact of the extra costs on small businesses would be to introduce a link between increases in oil tax revenue and a corresponding reduction infuel duty, the FSB argued [more].

Business relieved and dismayed over EU employment proposals

British business has seen good and bad news in the agreements reached by the UK government on the EU Working Time and Temporary Workers directives. The revised Working Time Directive has preserved the opt-out right of employees to agree to work longer than a 48-hour week,while the new Temporary Workers Directive entitles agency employees to the same pay and conditions as permanent staff after 12 weeks.

Employers 'unaware' of planned pension changes

More than half of businesses are in the dark about major changes that are being planned for workplace pensions, a new survey has revealed.