Plans to extend flexible hours to working parents will be revisited due to the current economic crisis.
Although no decision have been made as yet, the government said it wants to look again at the appropriateness of new regulations in light of financial changes.
The planned changes due to come into force next April would allow all parents of children up to the age of 16 to request flexible working hours. Currently, it is only open to parents of children aged up to six years old, or those with disabled children.
A spokesman for the Department for Business said: "The government is absolutely focussed on helping business, particularly small business to cope with the current economic downturn.
"As well as looking at cashflow and access to finance, we are looking at the appropriateness of new regulations that are due to come into force - that includes employment regulations. We can confirm that no decisions to halt regulations have been made.
"Employment changes introduced have benefited employees and employers alike giving flexibility to both, but it is only right that in the changed economic conditions we look afresh at the costs and benefits of new regulations."
