FOREIGN WORKERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1942, Page 2

FOREIGN WORKERS

INCLUDING HIGHLY-SKILLED TECHNICIANS. GIVING GOOD SERVICE IN BRITAIN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 8. In addition to the Allied armed forces organised on British soil, civilians from the occupied countries are contributing useful services to the common effort. The weekly newspaper “Economist” estimates their number as under 100,000, of whom 86 per cent have already been absorbed into industries. They include highly-skilled technicians and have brought with them important processes and new trades. These foreign workers have been enabled to become members of British trade unions and also of their national unions in an organisation similar to those in their own countries. Thus there are Belgian, Czechoslovak, French, Norwegian and Polish trade union groups. Foreigners are assured of the same conditions of employment and benefits under the social services as British workmen. These include workmen’s compensation, health and unemployment insurances and evacuation from danger zones. When practicable the international labour branch has encouraged the placing of foreigners in national groups. Thus Belgians, Norwegians and Czechoslovaks are employed in forestry, Norwegians in rope manufacture, Belgians. Czechs and Poles in diamond polishing and cutting, and Belgians and other fishermen in the naval auxiliary service.