90 day survey a poor endorsement for unfairness

The survey of 90 day ‘fire at will’ trials published today is another feeble attempt to justify this unfair law, said the Council of Trade Unions.

CTU President Helen Kelly said: “Nothing in this survey contradicts the essential point that the law strips employees of the right to a fair hearing and allows bosses to sack people for nothing – which we have proved is happening.”

“The claim that hiring has declined less in small firms than in bigger ones is hardly a ringing endorsement. The survey also mentions that firing should logically have gone up too, but the statistics on this are conspicuously absent.”

“Without the assistance of the 90 Day Law the number of people receiving unemployment benefit fell consistently from 162,000 in 1999 to 17,465 in May 2008. In June 2010, after 15 months of the 90 Day ‘incentive’ to small employers, there were 62,085 receiving unemployment benefit. A firm’s economic situation is the real influence on a hiring decision. Larger firms have said they don’t want or need this law, but once it is in place they too will use it to unfairly sack people.”

“The Department of Labour’s own research released in July last year showed that only half of small employers who had hired someone had even used a 90 day clause. This casts further doubt on the significance of the NZIER report.”

“The most damning thing is that once again the Minister of Labour is seeking to make great claims for this unfair and ineffective law. If this is the Government’s best shot at boosting employment it is nothing short of pathetic.”

ENDS

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