Legislation allowing trial employment periods for up to 90 days for workplace with fewer than 20 employees was introduced to Parliament today in a rowdy session as Government and Opposition MPs traded insults.
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson demanded Labour MP Trevor Mallard withdraw and apologise for remarks he made about her career before she entered Parliament.
Mr Mallard took some pushing before he did take that action but he did not hold back in his criticism of the Bill or Ms Wilkinson.
The legislation will be passed under urgency by Friday, if the current speed of debate continues. That means the trial periods can be available by April 1, next year.
Ms Wilkinson said the Government was moving decisively to mitigate the effects of the global economic troubles and position New Zealand for higher growth in the long-term.
The 90-day trial period was an integral part of that response.
"By lowering the legal risks employers face, they will be more confident in giving people the opportunity to prove themselves," she said.
Mr Mallard said the Bill removed protection workers already had and he likened the trial period to the former Employment Contracts Act which gave workers the "choice" of a job or no job.
"We should be focusing on what people do at work - getting them further trained rather than sacking them at will as she [Ms Wilkinson] wants to do."
