Youth rep slams 90-day bill

29th July 2010

Young Wairarapa people will be the most affected by the extension of the 90-day fire-at-will law, says Wairarapa youth advocate James Sleep. ''It's imperative that young people in Wairarapa have the best introduction to the workforce,'' he said.
Mr Sleep, national convener for the Council of Trade Unions' youth wing, Stand Up, echoes comments from Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner Dr Judy McGregor that the 90-day law will do nothing to help the employment prospects of young people and may actually discourage employers from putting their trust in youth.
''The sad reality is that many young people in the region are not given the right support in preparation for their introduction into the labour market, and with the extension of the 90-day probationary law they could be easily marginalised and taken advantage of,'' Mr Sleep said.
''The Wairarapa is still facing a youth unemployment crisis. Other regions with active plans to prepare young people for work have seen lower-than-usual youth unemployment rates.

''These young people need hope, but so do the many young people who will soon be planning to enter the employment market with little support to prepare them for work.''