National announces employment relations policy

ONE NEWS: There are no major surprises in National's employment and industrial relations policy, with party leader John Key confirming a 90-day probation plan for new workers

The plan will allow businesses with less than 20 employees to put new staff on a 90 day probationary period.

Key says it will increase flexibility, let businesses grow, and give young and inexperienced workers a greater chance of getting work.

Labour and the Greens have previously condemned the move saying vulnerable workers will be open to exploitation.

However Key says safeguards, such as good faith provisions and mediation, will be in place to protect workers' rights.

Another feature of National's employment and industrial relations policy is the ability for staff to cash in a week of their annual leave.

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly says the policy attacks the rights of workers.

"National's policy does not mention how they will lift wages, suggests workers could lose the fourth week of annual leave and have pay for statutory holidays cut, and reduces the democratic right of workers to belong to unions," Kelly says.

Labour says the lack of fanfare over Thursday's announcement is evidence that National is trying to put policy out under the radar.

In the past fortnight National has released policies on industrial relations, accident compensation, conservation, broadcasting and arts.

But Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen says the policy releases were not announced with a formal press conference and none have been followed up with an oral question in parliament, which is the usual practice followed by parties.

"John Key's policy releases have been fairly dismal attempts to fend off accusations that he lacks substance," Cullen says. "He (Key) is ordering policies to be released with every attempt made to make them die in the public arena."