MINIMUM WAGE ORDER

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24599, 22 June 1945, Page 4

MINIMUM WAGE ORDER

AMENDMENT GAZETTED WEEKLY BASIS INCREASED (From Our Parliamentary Keporter) WELLINGTON, June ,21. An amendment to the Minimum Weekly Wage (Essential Undertakings) Order was gazetted this evening. Under the original order, gazetted in 1942, where the ordinary weekly earnings of an adult male worker in an essential undertaking exceeded £5 10s the minimum weekly wage to which he was entitled was £5 10s, irrespective of the time worked. The new order provides that where the ordinary weekly wage exceeds £6 the minimum weekly payment stoail be £6. In the case of female workers the comparable weekly rate is increased from £2 17s 6d to £3 2s 6d, and in the case of junior workers from £1 15s to £2. The new order defines more clearly what is meant by ordinary weekly wage, and by an appropriate daily proportion. The purpose of the order is to ensure that workers engaged in an essential undertaking do not suffer because the undertaking for some reason is not able to work full time, provided they are able and willing to work nftrmal hours. This was the main point at issue in the “go-slow” in freezing works in Canterbury earlier this year. By agreement with the employers the union had obtained increased rates of pay, but because of slowness in the early part of the season the workers in the lower-paid categories were not able even at the increased rates to earn the minimum weekly wage. Therefore, the increased rates were of no benefit to them. It was generally expected, however, that the Minimum Weekly Wage Order would be adjusted in accordance with the general increase in award wages, and although no statement was made by the Freezing Workers’ Union, the impression was given that the normal rate of work was resumed in the industry in anticipation of an increase in the. minimum weekly wage. The increase operates from May 1.