90-day trial promises empty - Labour MP
90-day trial promises empty - Labour MP
The Government is being accused of making empty promises after saying the 90-day trial period for new workers would be voluntary, and then asking all public sector employers to include it in all contracts.
But the State Services Commission is defending an email sent to government agencies, which said that they were expected to implement Government policy, including the 90-day trial. "Agencies should not 'contract out of' aspects of the new provisions or contract to restrict any application of them," the email said.
Several workers organisations have been seeking - some successfully - collective contracts specifically exempting members from the trial period.
The trial period - which comes into effect in April - will mean that all new workers who agree to it will not be able to take a personal grievance case if they are dismissed. State Services Commission spokesman Jason Ryan said the email was nothing more than guidance for public sector chief executives to "act lawfully and implement government policy".
But Labour's state services spokesman Grant Robertson said the email made a mockery of the claim that the trial period would be optional.
"I actually asked [Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson] in Parliament about the application of the law to the State Sector. She said that the law is 'optional not compulsory', and that it was up to the sector and groups to ask for a 90-day trial period if they want it.
Click here to access the Herald article by By Derek Cheng of 11th January 2011