EPIDEMIC AND WAGES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 5

EPIDEMIC AND WAGES.

SOLICITOH-GENEBAiL'S OPINION.

Tho question of tho payment of wages in the case of shops, factories, offices, and so forth closed during the recent epidemic, was submitted to the SolicitorGeneral (Sir John W. Salmond) for his opinion by the Department of Labour. Tho Secretary of Labour lias received his opinion on the points submitted, which is as follows: — I am asked to advise as to tno obligation of employers to pay wages to their employees during the period for which places" of business were closed by order of the District Health Officers, in view of tlio epidemic of influenza. Such compulsory closing of placos of business epes liot in itself in any manner take away or affect the o6ligation of employers to pay wages. So long as a servant is not guilty of misconduct he as entitled to be paid his wages until his engagement has been lawfully terminated by the requisite notice. It makes no differenco that by reason of somo emergency ho lias been prevented from actually working. The only employers, therefore, who can refuse to pay wages are those who, on the closing of tlioir premises, took occasion to terminate the engagement of their servants in the proper manner having regard to tho terms of that engagement, the custom of the trade, and tho provisions of any award or industrial agreement relative thereto. I ought to add, liowcvor. in order to avoid misapprehension, that in the case of servants employed; by the day or hour, the terms of their employment may bo such that the mere closing of tho employer's place of business is in itself a sufficient notice of the termination of their employment. CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION. FULL WAGES TO BE PAID. The City Council last evening decided to pay full wages to those of its employees who were absent from work as a result of the epidemic. The Electricity Committee reported that it had decided that those employees of tho electrical department who had lost time through the influenza epidemic, irrespective of whether they were members of the sick fund, or whether time was lost through actual illness or through having to stay away from -work in order to look after members of their own families who were sick, were to be paid 30s per week while absent from duty. The Works and Sanitary Committee in its report said:—"The question of the payment of wages to employees who were absent through illness, and those who had occasion to stay at home to nurse their wives and children during the recent epidemic, has been carefully considered, and the committee recommends that they be paid at the rate of £2 5s per -week for the time they were absent, provided tho period does not exceed four weeks. Strict inquiries will be made into each case before any payment is made."

Cr. Taylor, chairman of the Electricity Committee, received permission to make the Electricity Committee's recommendation conform with that of the Works Committee in the matter.

Cr. Howard contended that the Council should pay the men their full wages. The Council, instead of trying to screw the la«t penny out of its employees, should bo a model employer. He moved, as an amendment, that the men who were away sick during the epidemic should receive full pay. Cr. Wells seconded the amendment-

Cr. Loasby considered that it was "nn to" the Council to pay the men full wages for the time they were ill.

Cr. Bcanland, chairman of the "Works Committee, pointed out that the men who belonged to the sick benefit fund would receive their sick pay allowance, plus £2 5s per week. Further, the "Works Committee was considering the question of payments to widows. The speaker added that he was not in any wav opposed to paying the men their full wages.

Cr. Herbert said that there were, in his opinion, not enough Council employees members of the sick fund. If a large number -were not members, then there must be something wrong with the fund. Ho strongly supported the payment of full wages, which, in any case, was extremely low.

Cr. Climie said he thought that those who supported the sick fund should derive the full benefits from it. He considered that full -wages should be paid, and that those "who belonged to the fund should, in addition, have the full benefits from that fund.

Cr. Flesher expressed himself as etronqlr opposed to tho payment of siek fund pay in addition to full wages. Cr. Hayward supported Cr. Climie, and eventually the amendment was carried, it being also decided that those who were members of the sick benefit fnnd should have their benefits from that fund as trelL

Incidentally, Cr. Williams expressed tbe opinion that it should be compulsory for all employees to bo members of the sick benefit hind.