Attempts to plug the skills gap, announced in the Queen's Speech last week, could backfire and make things harder for employers and recruiters, according to business and employee groups.

New bills include a law promoting apprenticeships, an extension of the right to request flexible working and regulations for agency workers.

The Apprenticeships Bill will mean all school leavers will be entitled to an apprenticeship by 2013. The measure received a cautious welcome, although the CBI warned that setting a minimum number of hours for training would discourage businesses. John McGurk, skills adviser for the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, added: "Compelling employers to release young people for training one day a week may be a pointless exercise if those employees have no intention of engaging properly with the learning process."

A poorly implemented policy would therefore put employers off recruiting young people, and do nothing to increase skills.

Another measure in the speech was an extension of the right to request flexible working. The CBI welcomed this but a spokesman told Recruiter: "This cannot be allowed to go too far or too fast. If does, there is a risk for those who are currently eligible. They may find their request refused, and therefore may find it more difficult to return to work."

Instead of increasing the talent pool, therefore, the measure could end up taking people out of work.

There will also be an Employment Bill, which will impose tougher measures on agencies that exploit temporary staff.

Unions supported the move, although they said the rules should go further. Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "Further legislation is needed to provide for equal treatment of agency workers."