REST PERIOD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1943, Page 3

REST PERIOD

ON FULL PAY FOR WORKERS NOT ENTITLED TO ANNUAL HOLIDAYS. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The approval by Cabinet of regulations providing for a rest period of five days on pay between Christmas and New Year’for workers not entitled to annual holidays on pay under the terms of their employment was . announced last evening by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. He said that the principle of annual holidays with pay had now been accepted by employers generally in New Zealand, and that it was the intention of the Government at the first suitable opportunity during the coming year'to bring down legislation to provide paid annual holidays for all workers.

“Having regard to the fact that the war is now in its fifth year and that consequently the need for reasonable rest periods, will be even greater than in previous years if maximum health and efficiency are, to be maintained during what may prove to be the vital year both in the field and in industry,” said Mr Webb, “the Industrial Rest Period Emergency Regulations 1943, have been approved by Cabinet providing for a rest period on pay of five days, from Monday, December 27, to Friday, December 31, both days inclusive, for all workers covered by awards, agreements or orders issued pursuant to the Emergency Regulations Act, 1939, and who are not entitled to annual holidays on pay under the terms of the employment. RATES OF PAY. “It is recognised that all workers could not, of course, be given the rest period at the 'same time, and it is therefore provided that where workers are required to work between Christmas and New Year they are to be given an equivalent rest period within the following six months. It is provided also in the regulations that workers required to work between Christmas and New Year are to be paid at ordinary rates only and while some awards may provide for Mondayising Boxing Day, it is considered that in view of the fact that the workers are being given a five day rest period, all should be placed on the same footing and paid ordinary rates on the Monday if required to work, ,

“The regulations also provide that the rest period is to be given only to those workers who are employed during the week ending December 25, 1943, and except in the case of freezing workers, for not less than three months prior’ to that date. Provision is also made for the apportionment of the cost of the rest period where a worker has been employed by more than one employer during such qualifying period.

“The regulations also lay down the basis of calculating the pay for the rest period in the case of pieceworkers and workers whose employment is intermittent by reason of the casual nature of the work, and provide for offences on the part of employers in failing to allow the rest period or terminating the employment of workers in order to avoid their obligations under the regulations. Also it is made an offence for a worker not to work between Christmas and New Year when requij - ed to do so by his employer for the purposes of urgent work or overhaul or maintenance, etc.”