Darien Fenton
Associate Spokesperson for Labour Issues

27 May 2010 Media Statement

Job Ops rule change not fair on young workers

Changes in the Budget that apply a 90-day trial period to the Government’s Job Opportunities scheme will expose out of work young people to unnecessary exploitation, Labour’s Associate spokesperson for Labour Darien Fenton says.

“Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson today confirmed that the Government has decided to apply the trial period to Jobs Ops because employers had asked for the scheme to be more ‘flexible’,” Darien Fenton said.

“The Government’s decision is surprising given Paula Bennett and Kate Wilkinson’s view last year that trial periods were inappropriate for temporary jobs such as those in the Job Ops scheme.

“What they have succeeded in doing is making a temporary job more temporary. There is nothing more flexible than a temporary job and there’s nothing worse than having no rights in that temporary job.

“Employers can receive a subsidy of up to $5000 through Job Ops, presumably in recognition of their help in bringing down youth unemployment, but the change to the scheme means that the employer could then fire that subsidised worker within 90 days with no fear of an appeal against unfair dismissal.

“The Job Ops Scheme is the only remaining government programme specifically designed to help young workers into work. Other programmes, such as Community Max will not be renewed.

“Young workers are often not aware of their rights and I can see that rather than being a positive experience in helping young workers enter the workforce, this could become a nightmare,” Darien Fenton said.

ENDS

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