New laws could massively increase the number of people taking up flexible working.

Legislation on flexible working is set to come into effect this weekend which mean parents with children under the age of six and disabled children under 18 will be given the right to negotiate flexible working hours.

Campaigners for the new rules say that if even 10 per cent of those covered by the rules took up their right to demand change, employers will have to respond to 360,000 requests.

Unions also highlighted the fact that young workers are also set to benefit this weekend from a European directive which comes into force to limit 16 and 17-year-olds working no more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

The law on maternity leave also changes with new mothers given the right to 12 months off work, six months of which can be paid for.

"There is something for almost everyone this weekend, with working parents and parents-to-be standing to benefit the most," said TUC general secretary-elect Brendan Barber.

Ruth Lea, of the Institute of Directors warned the new rights were simply adding new layers of damaging red tape to business.

"The extensions to family-friendly policies may seem progressive but they will hurt businesses, cause resentment in the workplace and are redolent of discredited 1970s feminist ideology."