MANUFACTURERS’ group the EEF will today press the Government to do more to cut “burdens” on employers, such as tackling the “overly- complex” approach to identifying alternatives to regulation.

The EEF said measures already taken by ministers had the potential to reduce regulations, but it called for a “genuine” change in approach in Whitehall.

The group, which represents 6,000 companies, praised the one-in one-out system – where new regulations are only introduced when old ones are cancelled – and welcomed attempts to look at employment and health and safety measures.

Its North West regional director, David Ost, said: “Government has set out the right ambitions to reduce the burden of regulation and its approach has the potential to deliver it. But industry is now looking to see the new approach deliver real change.

“With major new measures such as the new national pension savings scheme in the pipeline for next year, the government needs to set out plans for where it can reduce the burden on employers.”

A Department for Business spokesman said: “This government is working hard to reduce the burden regulation can have on business costs, including the flow of regulation from Europe.”