Unemployment Insurance

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1922, Page 3

U nemploy ment In sur ance

AUSTRALIAN UNION’S PROPOSAL.

SYDNEY, Feb. 15,

An interesting proposal in regard to insurance against unemployment has just been agreed to bv one of tire leading unions of New South Wales. The Factory Employees’ Union lias decided to request the State Labour Party, if returned to power at the next' elections, to introduce at once an Unemployment Insurance Act. The union has formulated a scheme for submission to the party, miAer which a percentage of the profits of tiie employers and the wages of the employees would be contributed weekly towards a lund lor the relief of the unemplo\]od persons. The union lias also decided to ask the State Government to insert clauses in the Shops and Factories Act providing that the proportion of male and female employees under the age of 21 years should not exceed one to four adults receiving the minimum wage, and that a break of ten minutes should be granted by employers to all female employees each morning and afternoon, and to amend the Arbitration Act in such a manlier as to compel employers to give 24 hours’ notice when overtime is to Ifc worked.

An effort will also lie made by the union to induce the Government to introduce legislation fixing the adult age of a female employ n o at 18 years, instead of 21 years, as now provided in the awards.