WORK FOR DISABLED MEN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 8

WORK FOR DISABLED MEN

APPEAL TO. EMPLOYERS .\ND EMPLOYED. Tho British Government is seeking tho co-operation of employers iii placing tho men disabled in the war in suitable positions iu civil life. In brief, tho proposal is that)every employer, by overhauling his organisation, shall endeavour to include among his workers as largo a proportion of disabled men at a lair ■wage as possible. The various industries aro being consulted, through both the employers' federations and the trade unions, as to the possibilities for tho employment of disabled men within the industry concerned, and suggestions aro being invited as to what particular occupations in each trade should be considered as specially suitable for theso men. ...

With regard to wages the suggestion is that a disabled man who is assigned a normal man's work should receive tho full rate current in the district lor tho work in question, unless a trado body, such as the Local Advisory Committee or a works committee, or other competent body, agrees that the man's capacity does 'liot justify the payment of tho full'rate. It is -not proposed that the disabled man. should bo given work for which ho is not fit or upon which ho will' not' be a productive worker fully earning his wages. It is that he should be given a preference for jobs for which he is lit, and that when necessary and practicable, conditions should be so adjusted as to provide jobs offering a Ljing wage to the man as well as benefit to the employer and tho community. The Local Advisory Committees, acting through the; employment exohanges, and in co-operation'with tho local war'pensions committees, will supply the disabled men asked for. • , Four main groups of disabled have to be provided for. They are: t 1. Men able to resume their former occupations or to take up similar occupations under normal conditions. 11ns is the largest group, embracing, m fact, the majority of disabled men. !J. Men who can foe employed either in their former occupations or some ether, provided a slight adjustment ot l nties or processes is made. 3. Men who are unable to resume their forpier occupations, but- who can be trained to new ones 1 Men unablo to resume their former occupations and incapable of profitably training for. new ones, but fit tor light d The "light-duty" man forms a class '■which causes considerable conoern. During the war employment of this nature was obtainable with comparative ease, but now difficulties are being encountered and the' problem can, be solved satis factorily only if employers will make a special effort to meet such cases. ; ! So far as the first group is concerned tho primary call naturally will be upon the man's old calling' and hio old employer. In a! small proportion'oi eases, where the supply of labour exceeds the demand, a change of occupation may bo necessary, but that can bo pranged easily so long as the employers wholeheartedly co-operate. In regard to the second group of adjustments of duties, it may bo pointed out that iu the past such adjustment-, have been made in order to meet tl« •case of men disabled by accidents whilo during the war Ihey have been adopted as ft moons of compensation ioi : tiip shortage of skilled labour or- physicastrength. Now, tho object is,to give « fair chance to the man who has sufleied in the national cause, and his clai.n ti consideration is such that argument, sacnis is unnecessary. As to .tho third gioup the Government are prepared to arrange for tho necessary training. Employe is. For their part, are asked lo gni tho same preference to the nF } vl p tralne f , "'|" as is given to other disabled men ahea.lj ™Il^is'earnestly to' be iioped that employees as well as employers will do all in their power to make the whole cplipme a success. They can, indeed, contribute very materially to this; «id by consenting where necessary to fciich changes in their particular trade or workshops as'may 1)0 required to enable (lis übled ex-service men lo do useful work.