ABSENTEEISM IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23746, 18 September 1942, Page 3

ABSENTEEISM IN INDUSTRY

WOMEN WORKERS WORSE PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA (0.C.) SYDNEY, September 9. While the Australian Government is developing plans to press an additional 80,000 women into essential industries, manpower authorities find that absenteeism among women workers already engaged is rife. The Deputy-Director of Manpower (Mr C. J. Bellemore) reported that the position is seriously retarding the war effort, and in the national interest must be rectified. His officers, who have investigated absenteeism in war industries, will make recommendations to check the present high rate of female labour wastage. Mr Bellemore said that generally there had been a wonderful response by women workers to the demands made on them. But for many reasons the rate of absenteeism among women, was considerably higher than among men. “A high proportion of women now employed in munition factories is unaccustomed to the class of work,” he said. “Domestic responsibility of others prevents a satisfactory adjustment to factory life. Difficulties of shopping and preparing meals also tend to increase absenteeism.” Mr Bellemore said that official investigations indicated that manpower was not being properly conserved by thorough utilisation of the time of women workers. Manpower officers have discovered that in cases where a married couple engaged in industry are working different shifts; the woman is often slack in her work. Manpower authorities are insistent that young, active women will not be permitted to enter non-essential industry. They recently refused an application by a theatrical entrepreneur to engage 40 girls for a ballet." He was told that young women could not be permitted to accept jobs as ballet dancers, because of the acute demand for their services in high priority work.