SECRETARY of State for Trade and Industry, Stephen Byers, has announced that new rights for part-time workers will come into operation tomorrow.

The move is aimed at stamping out discrimination for more than 400,000 mainly women workers on pay, pensions, training and holidays.

New regulations will mean that all six million part-time workers in the country are treated as favourably as full-timers.

Mr Byers, MP for North Tyneside, said: "Where discrimination remains it must be ended. On Saturday we reach an important milestone for employment rights when more than 400,000 part-timers should see an improvement in their conditions. Part-time work is a vital part of both the modern workplace and the modern economy. It is essential that part-time work is properly valued and rewarded."