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March-April 2006
House to debate 90 day probation period for new workers
MP, Dr Wayne Mapp, has recently introduced a private member’s bill (pdf file 14kb) into Parliament that will establish a 90 day probation period during which employees can lose their job without having recourse to personal grievance procedures. Dr Mapp, National Party’s Labour & Industrial Relations spokesperson had his bill drawn from the Parliamentary ballot for debate at the end of February.
Mapp has justified the bill by drawing comparison with Australia and suggesting that more employer-friendly legislation will increase productivity and competitiveness.
“This bill will ensure we have workplace law that will help New Zealand close the production gap with Australia. This will enable employers to take a chance with new employees without facing the risk of expensive and protracted personal grievance procedures... If the relationship does not work out during the 90-day period, either party can walk away without personal grievance procedures applying.”
Finsec General Secretary, Andrew Casidy, labelled the bill a serious threat to workers’ wellbeing;
“Removing all rights from new workers opens them up to exploitation. It only encourages companies to fire and hire staff rather than develop career paths and mentoring.”
Although the bill passed its first reading it is unlikely to be passed into the law, with the Labour-led government likely to vote it down.
