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Right to time off to train
03/12/2008
New UK legislation giving employees the right to ask for time off to train has been welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop.
Last month, Ms Hyslop wrote to John Denham, Secretary for State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, to signal her support for the proposal and to ask that Scotland be covered by the new legislation, should this be introduced.
Today, DIUS has confirmed that the Children, Skills and Learning Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, will introduce the right for employees to request time off to train.
Ms Hyslop said:
"Those who continue to invest in the skills of their staff during these challenging times will be those who are able to more quickly reap the rewards when the economic outlook improves.
"Skills development enables individuals to grow and to improve their life and career opportunities. It is also crucial to helping Scotland's businesses adapt and recover from the current downturn.
"That's why I welcome the decision by the UK Government to introduce this new legislation which will encourage staff and their employers to work together to ensure skills needs are met for their mutual benefit.
"As I announced last month, we are determined to support employers with these changes in Scotland and I have asked Skills Development Scotland to create a helpline to provide access to expert advisers who will be able help employers assess the skills needs of their business and other training issues. We will also work closely with trade unions and business organisations to create guidance on the new legislation, ahead of its implementation in 2010.
The UK Government completed its consultation on the right to time off to train in September this year. This would have extended the Employment Rights Act - legislation which is reserved to Westminster - to give employees in England the right to ask for time off to undertake training which would support business needs, as well as helping to develop the individual.
The Scottish Government launched its own consultation in September on extending the UK Government's proposal for a right to request time off to train so that it would cover employees in Scotland.
Around 93 per cent of respondents in Scotland, including employers, trade unions and business organisations, supported this despite the challenges of the current economic climate 4. Following the consultation in Scotland, Government officials have been working with the UK Government and Welsh Assembly Government, to ensure that the legislation, once drafted, covers Scotland. The change will be made by amending employment legislation which is a reserved matter. As Fiona Hyslop has written to John Denholm to request that this legislation is amended to cover Scotland, no legislative consent motion will be required on the right to time off to train.
The right to time off to train will be implemented from 2010.