Currently, after two continuous years in a job workers gain additional legal protections against being sacked.
Employers must identify a fair reason for dismissal - such as conduct or capability - and show that they acted reasonably and followed a fair process.
Under Labour's original plan, this qualifying period would have been abolished completely, with a new legal probation period, likely to have been nine months, introduced as a safeguard for companies.
But business groups argued the plan could prove unworkable, and voiced concerns that day-one unfair dismissal rights would discourage firms from hiring.
In a surprise announcement on Thursday, the government confirmed it will now bring in unfair dismissal protection after six months, and ditch the new legal probation period.