Media Release: Improved Probationary Employment Bill

Paul Winter of EMA Central today expressed support for the changes proposed by Dr Wayne Mapp to make the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Bill more workable.

“In its original form, the intent of the Bill was good, but some of the detail needed to be refined. It could have deprived workers of some basic rights, such as redress for unpaid wages,” he said.

“The changes Dr Mapp has made as a result of the select committee process have addressed many of the concerns raised by submitters, including EMA Central.

“We support the concept of a genuine probationary period. Current legislation pretends to offer probationary employment, but this is just a sham. Under existing law, all the employment protection provisions would still apply during probation, including personal grievance for unjustified dismissal. That’s the reason no employers have bothered to use it,” he said.

Mr Winter went on to say that he hopes the changes will encourage the Maori Party to have another look at the potential benefits the Bill offers.

Dr Mapp’s Bill was reported back to the House today. The select committee, which is dominated by Labour, was tied on the proposed changes to the bill. The date of the Bill’s second reading has yet to be announced.

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