Stand Up Media Release

29 August 2013

Young workers cast aside by Minister Bridges

With over 11 000 workers fired under the 90 days legislation, it is disappointing that the Minister of Labour hasn’t bothered to look at the impact on young people given one of the stated reasons for the law was to get young workers into the workforce, and that young people are often employed on 90 day contracts said Asher Goldman, Co-convenor, Stand Up, the youth network of the Council of Trade Unions.

"The Government boasted that the 90 day provision would help solve youth unemployment, but all it is doing is allowing bad employers to sack young workers without any process, and often without any reason.” said Asher Goldman.

“There are over 30,000 young people currently unemployed in New Zealand, and an additional 26,700 if you include 20-24 year olds. Laws like the 90 days, and youth rates have not helped create jobs for these young people, all they have done is remove their rights and allow them to be paid less. These laws are failing young people.”

"The 90 day fire-at-will law, in combination with the current employment law changes being driven through from this Government, will only succeed in convincing more and more young New Zealanders that their future lies overseas.”

"Young workers deserve employment laws that encourage and enable them to thrive in our workforce, not to be cast aside by an uncaring Minister," said Mr Goldman.

ENDS

© Scoop Media