"Give youngsters a leg up not a leg rope"

14 September 2006

Media Release
Available for immediate use

HANZ encourages select committee to "give youngsters a leg up not a leg rope"

"Give youngsters a leg-up, not a leg-rope" was the message delivered to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee today by the Hospitality Association's Bruce Robertson, the Association's Chief Executive.

Speaking in favour of the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill, he told the Committee that the present legislation was acting as an impediment to employers offering young people a chance at a job.

"This is particularly apparent with those least equipped or able to enter the work force", he said.

"Having 90 days to work through issues with these more challenging candidates - without the risk of a personal grievance would encourage more employers to give them a try-out," Mr Robertson said. "Those that show promise are going to be kept on, obviously, as no employer wants to get rid of a potentially good worker."

With young people over represented in the unemployed statistics, any move to help them get started on the employment ladder should be welcomed by everyone, he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media