Labour's Jan Tinetti says today's employment law change is a backwards step

The Coalition's voted through major reform, including excluding earners on more than 200-thousand dollars from the right to a personal grievance claim - for being fired unfairly.

It lets employers judge workers contractors, or employees - which could change leave and pay.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden promises it'll give businesses confidence.

Tinetti calls it regression - claiming it bulldozes worker protections.