By ELLEN READ
Small businesses should be allowed a one-month probation period to assess new employees, according to Small Business Minister John Tamihere.
Emphasising that it was not Labour Party policy, Tamihere said he had been arguing for the change as part of the review of the Employment Relations Act.
"I'm a
great believer that a probation period would be helpful. Three months is too long but a month gives you a taste both ways," he told a Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand meeting this week.
Labour Minister Margaret Wilson told the Council of Trade Unions conference last week that announcements were just a week or two away and legislation would be in Parliament by Christmas and likely to be in force by the middle of next year.
Tamihere mentioned after the meeting that areas that had been discussed included probation periods, the impact of four weeks' annual leave, worker protection when a business is sold or work contracted out and contracting out of leave.
