WAGE GUARANTEE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 118, 21 May 1942, Page 8

WAGE GUARANTEE

ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY

PENALTY FOR ABSENTEEISM

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day.

Far reaching amendments to the National Emergency Regulations and the Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, were announced by the Minister of National Service, Mr. Semple, to-day. He said the amendments were to that part of the regulations dealing with national service outside the armed forces, and particularly with the direction of persons to work of national importance. The new amendment aimed at ensuring that the man and woman power concerned would be fully utilised through the provision of guaranteed weekly remuneration as fixed by the Minister of Labour for workers. Another amendment placed the obligation on the employer to make work available as required by the Minister of Labour or the Controller.

Mr. Semple said there might be delay in fixing the minimum guarantee for every essential industry, but the Minister of Labour could make guarantee retrospective to May.

Mr. Semple reiterated that no employer, without proper consent, could engage any worker who left an essential undertaking without authority. If an employer failed in this obligation he committed an offence. Where a worker was reinstated after dismissal, or lost time while attending an employer's appeal, which was dismissed, the employer could be required to pay the worker for all or any part of the time lost.

Termination of Employment

Provisions were now made for the District Manpower Officer to consent to the termination of employment at less than seven days' notice, so that if a worker's normal work was abolished, he could be transferred to another position without the termination of his engagement. The power of the Minister of National Service to direct any person to perform any service outside the armed forces had now been extended to apply to companies, corporations and associations. Individuals transferred from one employment to another in this way were given the same rights to occupational re-establishment as if they had been called up for military service.

Another amendment placed the obligation on the employers to see that all persons employed have enrolled in the Emergency Reserve Corps, said the Minister. Power had been taken to require an employer to give training or employment to persons directed to work of national importance performed by his factory or business.

Other amendments included one which stated that the district manpower officer may if necessary direct the deduction of union fees from wages.

The Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, said the Minister, placed an obligation on the employers to make work available during ordinary working hours, and on the eniployees to be available for work during those hours. In addition an employer in an essential industry or undertaking may be required to keep his concern working during specified additional hours and to require his workers to work during those hours. There were penalties for both employers and workers who without reasonable excuse failed to comply with such requirements. A worker must not absent himself without leave or reasonable excuse, but it was not intended to penalise the loyal and willing worker for isolated absence. The penal clauses were designed to deal with deliberate defaulters and the person who was habitually or persistently late for work. The district manpower officer was given I power to require an employer to deduct wages up to two days' pay in the cases of persistent or habitual lateness or of continued absence of four hours or more. Right of appeal to the Manpower Committee was provided. The Amount, deducted would go into the war expenses account.