EMPLOYERS'PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2881, 20 September 1916, Page 7

EMPLOYERS'PROBLEMS

UNREGISTERED WORKERS

PRECAUTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN Under the new regulations of tho Military Service Act, employers of labour are placed under an obligation to employ no ono of military ago (between 20 and 46 years of age) who lias not enrolled in tho Expeditionary Forco Reserve. As the date for such enrolment has gono by, employers are now liablo under tho clause of the Act mentionod, and a remindor of tho fact lias been issued to Wellington employers by tho Employers' Association in tho form of tho following memorandum :— "Tho following information is supplied in order that employers may assist _iu securing compliance with the provisions of the Act and may learn tho extent of their liability under it. This circular has been submitted to tho authorities, and its contents aro approved. "Every male natural born British, subject not less than 20 years and less than 46 years of age now or hereafter resident in Now Zealand is constituted a member of tho Expeditionary Forco Reserve, with the exception of: (a) iMembors of any Expeditionary Forco raised under the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1915, and (b) men who havo been discharged in consequence of disablement or ill-health from that forco or from any other portion of His Majesty's Forces after service beyond the seas during tho present war. For instance, members of the First Samoan Forco who wore discharged at their own request must enrol, as- they are not exempted by tho Act. "An employer is liablo to a fino not less than £20 who, after the enrolment of the Reserve has been proclaimed, continues to employ in his servico for more than seven days any man who belongs to the Reserve and is not enrolled. A certificate is to bo issued to each Reservist who is enrolled. As the preparation of theso certificates will take sorao timo, the Government Statistician is acknowledging each application, and this acknowledgment card may bo accepted as temporary proof of enrolment pending tho issue of the certificate itself. But it must bo distinctly understood that this acknowledgment card will cease to have any valuo as proof of. enrolment once tho Recruiting Board has announced that tho certificates are ready. This announcement will bo made through tho Press. ■ . . "In order that employers may safeguard themselves from liability they are advised to require production to them by each employee of such acknowledgment card and certificate and to note in their wages book or otherwiso tho dates of production. "In tho cases of employees who claim that they aro under or over military ago or that they aro not horn British subjects, employers are advised to secure from such persons a statement in writing to that effect. If an employer is not satisfied'as to tho truth, of any such statement, he must forward the namo of tho worker concerned to the Government Statistician, Wellington, who will thereupon take such further stops as may be necessary. If this course is strictly followed, employers will be deemed to have taken all reasonable projautions to seo that their employees are enrolled, and will bo freed from further liability."