The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has voiced its approval over new information and consultation rights for workers in firms with between 50 and 100 employees.

Systems in place to facilitate a dialogue between managers and staff will have to be introduced following the introduction of the regulations.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said that the new regulations will mean workers "will have a right" to know what’s going on in their place of work.

"It should put a stop to shock situations where in the past staff heard their jobs were to be axed via text messages or found out from local media," Mr Barber added.

He said that the practice of keeping employees informed and aware of what is going on is the mark of "well-run companies" and "sensible employers", while "only bad managers" keep their workers in the dark.

The TUC campaigns on behalf of 66 unions and nearly seven million workers, according to the organisation’s website.