MANPOWER CONTROL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 15 October 1942, Page 2

MANPOWER CONTROL

REGULATIONS EXPLAINED STATEMENT BY MINISTER [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter! Wellington, This Day. Requirements made by the Industrial Manpower Emergency Regulations, 1942, which replace previous regulations on the same subject, are explained in a statement issued by the Minister of Industrial Manpower (Mr McLagan), who said that there is nothing in the new regulations that will unduly affect the good worker or the good employer, and that the regulations are to be administered with discretion. Any employer or worker in an essential industry or undertaking, says the Minister's statement, may not terminate employment without written permission ol a district man-power officer In cases of serious misconduct an employer may suspend but not dismiss a worker, and the manpower officer will decide whether the worker is to be dismissed or reinstated. Every decision or direction of a manpower officer is subject to appeal to a Manpower Appeal Committee. If his work is abolished a worker may be transferred permanently to other work in the undertaking, but the manpower officer must give permission if the transfer involves a lower rate. The worker has a right of appeal against any permanent transfer, irrespective of the rate. An employer may transfer a worker temporarily to other worn if his usual work is temporarily not available, or if his services are required for work of greater urgency, or by consent of a manpower officer, and any transfer of more than a month’s duration requires such consent. A worker so transferred must be paid either the time rate for j his usual work or the rate for the work performed, which ever is the greater. Manpower officers may order deductions from wages for deliberate absenteeism. Any person or company may be directed to perform such services outside the Armed Forces as the Minister of Industrial Manpower may require, but there is a right of appeal. The new regulations impose three important obligations on all employers. It is an offence to engage a worker who has left, an essential undertaking in contravention of, the regulations, or to employ any worker so that the employment is incompatible with a direction issued by the Minister or manpower officer. Every employer is responsible to see that employees eligible to register have registered. Registration orders so far have covered women aged 20 to 30 inclusive, men aged 46 to 50 inclusive, metal trades workers, building trades workers and timber workers. For the purpose of the regulations any person may be required to submit to medical examination. Manpower officers are given power to enter premises, interview persons and inspect books. Every person engaged in an es- ! sential industry or subject to a direc- ! tion is deemed to be a member of any j industrial union to which it is lawfully necessary for him to belong in respect of his employment T f necessary a manpower officer may require the deduction of union fees from wages, but only if the union has made a reasonable attempt to recover the fees and only in respect of debts incurred during periods when the regulations applied to the person concerned.