JOBS PROTECTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20068, 14 October 1939, Page 7

JOBS PROTECTED

MEN WHO ENLIST REGULATIONS ISSUED REINSTATEMENT TERMS DISCHARGE FROM FORCES WAGE INCREMENTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. An extraordinary Gazette containing regulations having far-reaching consequences for employees who enlist in the Dominion’s defence forces, either for overseas service or home defence during the'present hostilities and also their employers, has been published to-day. The most important section of the regulations, whidh are termed the “Occupational Re-establishment Emergency Regulations, 1939” is that stating that it shall he the duty of any employer by whom, or by predecessor of whom in relation to employer, a person accepted for service in His Majesty’s forces, whether in New Zealand or overseas, was employed when he was so accepted for service, to reinstate him in his employment at the termination ,of service, or during any period of leave from that service without pay in an occupation and under conditions not less favourable to him than those which would have been applicable to him had he not been so accepted, including the benefit of conditions providing for increments in remuneration, such benefits to attach so as to entitle him to remuneration at the time of his reinstatement at a rate which he would then have received had his employment been continuous up to that time.” Offence Created The regulations state that the employers who fail to comply with the provisions of the above-mentioned clause commit an offence and may be ordered to pay the person whom he has failed to reinstate a sum not exceeding the amount equal to 12 week’s remuneration or remuneration for the period of leave. The regulations also set out provisions which may be used by employers in justifying their non-rein-statement of employees. These include the failure by an employee to apply for re-instatement within six months of the termination of overseas service or during' any period of leave without pay, and also if an employee, having been offered re-instatement, fails, without reasonable excuse, to present himself for employment at the time and place specified or, by reason of change of circumstances, other than the engagement of some other reason to replace him, employers will not be allowed to terminate the employment of employees for the purpose of evading the obligations imposed under these regulations or in the expectancy that an employee might be accepted for service in His Majesty’s forces. The regulations also make provision for employees where a contract of service is concerned and are subject to the suspension of the Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1939.