The Government is looking to extend the 90-day trial period scheme to all employers regardless of size, Prime Minister John Key says.
The scheme, introduced last year, allows businesses with fewer than 20 staff to dismiss new workers within a three-month
The Government is looking to extend the 90-day trial period scheme to all employers regardless of size, Prime Minister John Key says.
The scheme, introduced last year, allows businesses with fewer than 20 staff to dismiss new workers within a three-month period, without the right to take a personal grievance.
Mr Key announced today that the scheme would be extended to all employers, One News reported.
The Government initially considered extending the scheme to employers with up to 50 staff, but decided to extend it to all businesses, regardless of size.
Mr Key said the scheme had already been successful.
"The results of that have been stunning, it has ensured that a lot more New Zealanders have the opportunity to engage in work."
Labour leader Phil Goff said the move was an attack on workers' rights at a time when unemployment was already high.
"John Key's move to make it easier for bosses to fire workers will now mean every Kiwi heading into new employment has the threat of sacking hanging over them from day one, regardless of whether they are up to the job or not."
Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said workers had already been dismissed in "unfair and unclear circumstances" using the 90-day provisions.
"For a number of the young people we have represented it has been a simply devastating experience," she said.
"It is important for every worker in New Zealand to have the right to appeal against unfair dismissal and it is a disgrace that the Government intends to remove that right from hundreds of thousands of workers."
