The government’s proposals to extend family-friendly working rights have been welcomed by trade unions but raised fears in the leisure sector that they could create an “enormous burden” on small companies and cause major disruption throughout the industry.

The new regulations were published in a Department of Trade and Industry consultation document on 1 March and include increasing paid parental leave alongside a proposal to extend the right to flexible working to include carers of adults and parents of older children.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added: “The leisure, hospitality and tourism industries have a lot to gain from making employment in the sectors more attractive and rewarding to working parents.

“There is a large pool of talented workers, particularly women, that many areas of the industry will be better able to tap into. Everyone at work should be able to benefit from a better work/life balance.”

However, the leisure sector itself has been less enthusiastic about the proposals, which are set to form an integral part Labour’s General Election manifesto.

A spokesperson for the British Hospitality Association said: “The new regulations make life even more complicated for small businesses. Bearing in mind that the average size hotel is only 10 rooms or so, the present regulations already present a real problem when staff are away for maternity or paternity leave.”

John Cridland, deputy director of business lobbying organisation, the CBI added: “Extending family-friendly rights to this extent threatens to make life extremely difficult for small firms.”

Trade and industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said: “It’s not the job of government to tell mothers, or fathers, how to live their lives but it is our job to give them more choices and support.”