Minister admits 90 day trial periods not voluntary

On the eve of the first reading of a bill that will extend 90 day trial periods to all workplaces the Minister in charge of the bill, Kate Wilkinson, has admitted that trial periods are not voluntary and can be a pre-condition of employment.

Kate Wilkinson was responding to questions in Parliament from Labour’s Associate spokesperson for labour issues, Darien Fenton, about whether employers could advertise a 90 day trial period as part of a condition of a job.

“The Minister and the Prime Minister have been insisting for weeks that trial periods were voluntary and could only be entered into in good faith and with the agreement in writing by the employee and employer,” says Darien Fenton.

“Now it appears that the only thing that is voluntary is whether an employee applies for or takes a job that has a trial period advertised.

“Many people don’t have any choice about applying for jobs. They are so desperate to get work that they will go for every job.

“Someone on an unemployment benefit who is referred by Work and Income to a job with a 90 day trial period isn’t given a choice as to whether they take a job or not, because if they don’t they will have their benefit cut.

“Kate Wilkinson and the Prime Minister have deliberately misled Kiwis with their claims around the expansion of the 90 day trial period. But this is just the tip of iceberg in the government’s plans for labour law changes and what really lies behind their policy.

“At a time when prices are already racing ahead of wages, unemployment is skyrocketing and families are struggling to have something left over at the end of the week, this is bad news for New Zealand wage and salary earners.

“Labour will strongly oppose the government’s labour law changes in the first reading of the Bill tomorrow.”

ENDS

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