An extra 4.5m UK workers will be able to request flexible working under government plans announced in the Queen's speech.

It had been thought that plans to extend flexible working rights from parents of under 6's to those who have children who are under 16 would be postponed given the current economic climate.

It has been estimated that the move could cost the UK businesses an extra £69m a year, and has been strongly criticised by the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chamber of Commerce

"The timing of this is not clever. We had hoped that the government would pause on the issue given the economic circumstances that small businesses will be facing. 2009 is not the year to introducing a fresh tranche of regulation," said Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses

Staff that are eligible for flexible working will be given the right to ask employers to alter their working hours to fit into their home life - such as starting work late and leaving late.

Businesses will be able to turn down the request if they consider that the new arrangement would be detrimental to their businesses.

"The concern for business is that at a time when small firms have to be really focused on surviving and coming out of the recession, they are going to get diverted into a load of requests for flexible working," said David Frost, the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce.