The government must do more to recognise workplace and on-the-job training, an organisation has urged.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), smaller firms are being "short changed" by the government and the training offered by micro-businesses should be formally recognised.

Colin Willman, education and skills chairman with the body, said there were many ways for the government to make it simpler for small firms to have their training accredited.

"At the moment the process is too expensive and too bureaucratic for many small businesses to cope with. The vast majority of businesses do not have [a human resources] department to handle these issues," he added.

His comments follow the government's announcement that as many as 22 million workers in England will gain the right to request training time from their employers.

The new legislation could be finalised and in place by 2010 but John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, warned that not all employers fully understood the importance of skills to their organisations.

Adult learning information made available online by the government suggests that improving computer skills helps people in the workplace and socially, as well as allowing them to develop further through internet resources.