The Government's controversial bill to introduce a 90-day trial probation period for workers has passed its first hurdle in Parliament by 63 votes to 55.
The legislation - which is being debated under urgency - will make it easier for companies with fewer than 20 employees to sack new workers. Staff will not be able to take personal grievances for reasons of unjustified dismissal during that time.
MPs debated the commitee stage of the bill in Parliament on Thursday night.
To the sound of jeers from the Opposition benches, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson told Parliament the bill is not about removing rights, but creating a "win- win" situation for employers and workers.
But the Goverment's support party, the Maori Party, says the planned trial employment period will have a massive and immediate negative impact on Maori, Pacific Island and young workers.
On Wednesday the Maori Party informed the Government of its intention to vote against the bill.
However, the National and ACT parties will still have the numbers to pass the bill, which is expected to become law on Friday morning.
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says although sacked workers could still go to mediation or take legal action, it would be pointless because employers do not have to give their jobs back.
Mr Harawira says there will be fallout which will hit workers in the manufacturing, retail and construction industries, which employ high numbers of Maori and Pacific Islanders.
He says his party's decision does not affect its confidence and supply agreement with the National-led government.
"We are obligated to support them on confidence and supply, but we're free to make our own decisions on all other pieces of legislation coming before the House."
Mr Harawira says the Maori Party opposed a similar bill in the name of the National MP Wayne Mapp in 2006.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the party's policy is to support and extend workers' rights. He says they have no evidence that probationary periods provide gains for new, inexperienced or marginalised workers.
Bill a sham, say Greens
The Green Party's labelled the bill a "sham", saying it should go to select committee and not be pushed through under urgency.
Ms Bradford told Parliament the excuse that a similar bill, in the name of National MP Wayne Mapp, has already been through select committee is not good enough.
She said the bill is different to Mr Mapp's bill, and even an abbreviated select committee process would have been "more democratic than the rush to judgement and the simple sham" taking place.
