Britain's amended employment law, coming into force on Friday, has triggered strong criticism from trade unions and business leaders urged more government efforts to help companies create jobs.

A huge change of the employment law and tribunals is to increase the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from one year to two years.

The change has been criticized by trade unions as making sacking workers easier.

The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) of Britain said the change in the law could increase job insecurity and lead to a "hire-and-fire culture."

TUC was quoted by BBC as saying that it feared the change would cause discrimination against young people, women who work part-time and workers from ethnic minorities.

But the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the move will give employers greater confidence to hire staff.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) supported the change, saying it was the only concrete step ministers had taken to encourage job creation.

The business department spokesman said in a statement that Britain has one of the most flexible labor markets in the world but they want to make sure that the rules are fit for modern workplaces.

"We need to make the system simpler for employers and employees," the spokesman said.