Employment Relations Act 2000 - 2008 Employment Relations Amendment Act

2008 Employment Relations Amendment Act

The Employment Relations Amendment Act was passed under urgency by the new National Government. It allowed small businesses (those employing less than 20 staff) to sack employees within 90 days of being hired without those employees being able to take a personal grievance case against the employer. Kate Wilkinson, the Minister of Labour, said that the Act allowed businesses to employ new staff without a concern that they would face time consuming and costly grievance procedures if the person was not right for the job. The Labour Party said that the Act opened up workers to abuse and reduced their rights.

Read more about this topic:  Employment Relations Act 2000

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