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Moves to increase the number of people who can gain new skills, become more productive and develop better careers were announced in the government's draft legislative programme.

Under the legislation, employees will be given the legal right to request time to train from their employers and apprenticeships will receive a boost to promote the potential of individuals and businesses.

In addition, the government will consult on how workers can legally request time to undertake training that will benefit them and their employer and employees will be able to talk to employers about their training needs and of the public funds available to support training.

John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, said: "If the job prospects of our workforce are to improve and the country is to succeed internationally, we have to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to rise as far as their abilities can take them.

"Learning starts before school and it should not stop when you leave. While it is right that we consult on this proposal, I believe that skills development has to become an integral part of working life for everyone. A right to request training will help ensure this becomes a reality.

"It will allow millions of employees to start a conversation with their employer about how they can become a more productive member of staff and in turn will encourage employers to better tap into some of the major government supported training programmes available to them."

The programme included the proposal that employers will also be legally obliged to seriously consider requests for training they receive but could refuse a request where there was a good business reason to do so. Employers will not be obliged to meet the salary or training costs to enable a request for time to train but many could choose to do so, recognising the opportunity to invest in their business.

The right will be backed by ongoing government investment in skills and training which will rise to £5.3bn a year by 2010/2011, supported by government funding rising to more than £1bn a year by the same period.