EFFECT OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 8

EFFECT OF WAR

Working’ Conditions In Germany 1.L.0. REVELATIONS - The extent to which the war has affected workers and working conditions in Germany, and early results of the effectiveness of the British blockade, are revealed in the International Labour Office publication of January 22, 1940, under the heading of conditions of work and hours of work in Germany. . . Under the sub-heading, "Making up Time Lost Owing to Air Raid Warnings,” reference is made to the loss of wages to the workers. To meet this position the Ministry of Labour, headed by Dr. Ley, issued the following instruction “An air raid warning is an act of war which affects employers and workers alike. Just as the employers must bear (he loss of decreased production because of air raid warnings, workers may have to suffer decreased wages. However, to avoid placing excessive burdens on the workers, normal hours of work (10 a day) lost through air raid warnings may be made up within six weeks so far as the undertaking is able. . If, because of continuous operation (day and night shifts) the lost time cannot be made up within six weeks, the employer must pay his workers compensation equal to not more than 50 per cent, of the wages they have lost, provided that he can afford to do so."

The effect of the British blockade is shown in an order dealing with short time in the textile industry. The order was issued on October 26, 1939, and enabled textile undertakings to work short time provided they gave workers three days’ notice. The reason given for this measure was that the textile industry had been particularly hard hit by.the war, since certain raw materials could now be imported only on a very limited scale.