90-day work probation back on the agenda

National's unpopular 90-day employment probation period law which removed basic rights for employees for the first three months in a new job is back up for debate, Labour List MP for Waitakere Carmel Sepuloni

Carmel Sepuloni's Employment Relations (Probationary Period Repeal) Amendment Bill was drawn for the ballot in Parliament today.

The Bill seeks to repeal National's Employment Relations Amendment Act - one of the first things it did on winning office - which allows workers to be fired at will for the first 90 days of their employment, and restores the relevant parts of the Employment Relations Act to the 2008 status quo.

"I am delighted my Bill is up for debate, as it gives New Zealand the chance to take a good look at the effects of National's 90-day law, which is now more than a year old and which Labour strongly opposed.

"Of course, I would have to be a supreme optimistic to think National would support this, even to select committee stage.

"But I encourage National to view this as a challenge. If it is confident that its Act is good for New Zealand then why not put the evidence before a select committee and let Kiwis decide for themselves?

"I know that Labour would put forward strong arguments to support the Act's repeal.

"The Act is unfair - denying workers the right to personal grievance or legal proceedings in the first three months; it is unnecessary - the Employment Relations Act already allowed probationary periods; and it is bad for business - the key issue facing our labour market now is how to attract new workers, not how to sack them.

"National justified pushing the law through in its first 100 days in office by saying New Zealand was in recession and companies needed support.

"But it says we're not in recession now. If National is so confident that we are back on track then why not let workers start to enjoy the benefits too - starting with giving them greater certainty in their work - or at least have the courage to debate the issue," Carmel Sepuloni said.

ENDS

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