Shop workers put forward own ‘legislation’

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 10

Shop workers put forward own ‘legislation’

The Shop Employees’ Association has put forward its own version of amending legislation to the Shop Trading Hours, Act..-1977. J'. The Government’s versidn of the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill has been referred to a 1 select committee, which will soon hear submissions from interested organisations or individuals. > ' The association’s version would make it mandatory f°r shop inspectors to report on any breaches of the act by the applicant at any hearing .under the HCt. ■ .. . In making any order under section 20 of .'the act, the Shop Trading Hours Commission would take into account any previous breach of the . act by the applicant, "and shall refuse to grant an application if the applicant has been convicted of ah offence under section 23.” The association’s f/Bill” would also give the commission the power to revoke exemption, orders, where the shop- occupier< has been convicted or an offence under section 23. The interests of employees, in the retail trade would be included in the list- of nine matters the commission at present takes into account when granting an application for extended opening hours. The : Government bill leaves, the existing matters intact and does not include the interests of the employees.

A new section would be included in the act if the association had its way. The new section would "give the right to employer and union organisations to make, a joint application to ensure that the neejjis of tourists to buy appropriate goods were met and to allow shops : to open between 9 aan. and noon on . the three Saturdays before Christmas Day. The commission must first be satisfied that the applicants are in agreement on the terms of the application. The Shop Employees’ Association would also make it mandatory for inspectors, on receipt of a complaint in /writing signed by the complainant, to inspect the premises complained of. .: ' Penalties for breaches of the act would be increased from the present $3OO to $l5OO, and an added of- . fence would be to adver- : Use in such a way as to .- indicate that a breach of the act was likely to occur. The publisher of the adverlsement would also commit an offence. The association appears to have borrowed this section from the Human Rights Commission Act. In a covering note, the industrial officer of disassociation (Mr R. J. Campbell) says that the proposed amendments would enable the Shop Trading Hours Commission to work more effectively.