REPLACEMENT IN WORK

Evening Star, Issue 22328, 2 May 1936, Page 9

REPLACEMENT IN WORK

LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PLANS DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES A new phase of the Labour Department’s plans is outlined in the appended summary of a departmental circular. Briefly, the idea is to obtain a vocational analysis of registered ■unemployed men and of other men who desire assistance in obtaining private employment, and then to inaugurate throughout the Labour Department districts what arc practically employment exchanges with the primary object of guiding unemployed persons into available and, wherever possible, suitable jobs. The co-operation of employers is essential for the success of this plan, and everything that can possibly be done to secure this help has been anticipated in the instructions to the placement officers.

The Labour Department is at- present organising a vocational analysis, not only of registered relief workers, but also of those who are disengaged, and who, though not desirous of seeking relief benefits, wish to bo assisted in their endeavours to obtain private employment. In the meantime, the plan will operate only in Whangarei, Auckland, Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton, Masterton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. All men coming within the plan will be personally interviewed by a specially selected placement officer, with a view to ascertaining their general suitability for a definite occupation. In order to avoid misunderstanding or disappointment to employer and applicant alike, it is necessary that the placement officer should obtain a full record of each applicant’s past experience, competency, integrity, etc., and from this record selections will be made immediately upon notification of a vacancy. Incidentally, the record will serve as a basis for statistical pur-

poses. To this end, the applicant will be invited to furnish such information regarding his educational and technical attainments, previous employers, period during and capacity in which employed, nature of main occupations while on relief or when casually employed, whether he possesses tools of trade, whether he is willing to accept distant work, and any additional information which he considers would more quickly commend him to an employer. Information regarding his income, property, etc., will not ho sought—the sole aim of the placement officer will be to secure the benefits represented by permanent restoration to industrial activity.

It is considered that such interviews will serve another very useful purpose, inasmuch as there are many cases in which, for instance, a competent carpenter, _ displaced from his normal occupation, was compelled to engage in and acquired a certain degree of skill as a motor lorry driver, which class of work proved more congenial than the original occupation. It would perhaps lie somewhat natural for such a man to describe himself as a lorry driver, whereas the placement officer would endeavour to show him that his intexests would best be served by regaining his skill and seeking employment as a carpenter, even if only because the opportunities for and pay of skilled carpenters are greater

The average man is apt to bo somewhat casual when requested to describe his occupation, and care is necessary to ensure that the accepted description actually represents the position for which he is qualified. As an example, it may be mentioned that the designation “ driver ” may mean driver of a motor car, motor lorry, omnibus, horse, locomotive, _ tram, stationary engine, etc., while it has been humorously suggested that it may include “ nigger driver.”

One novel feature of the proposed plan is that when testimonials and other statements submitted by the applicant have been verified satisfactorily, the department will issue an “ employment certificate ” indicating that as far as wide inquiries show the applicant has acquired that degree of competency and character which fits him for employment in the occupation specified. It is expected that, after a little experience, employers will regard this certificate as a standard of “ employment suitability ” and that it will render further inquiries unnecessary, thus avoiding loss of time, inconvenience, and expense in obtaining corroborative information. It is, of course, also possible that as confidence in these certificates becomes established employers will afford precedence of consideration to holders thereof, and as a consequential corollary all disengaged wage earners will register at the bureaux for employment. Ibis position the department will be fully prepared to meet and afford every facility to secure the absorption of all unemployed, whether registered for relief or not. “ Employment certificates ” will bo issued without alterations of any kind, and tlms any amendment thereon should be regarded with suspicion. Every effort will be exerted to secure the goodwill, confidence, and co-opera-tion of all employers, who to this end will in due course be approached by the placement officers and kept in periodic touch with the bureaux labour supply. Hue respect will naturally be paid to tho value of an employer's time. Where vacancies are advertised over a nom-de-plumo or number, tho bureau will submit a written request for an opportunity of detailing suitable candidates. Mobility of labour is an important feature in any employment plan, and therefore whenever a placement officer becomes aware of an opening for a typo of worker not listed on his rccorls ho will immediately communicate with neighbouring bureaux in an effort to meet tho call. It should ho mentioned that the plan herein described is only now being inaugurated, and it will be some little time before it is in full operation; in the meantime, however, inquiries for labour will he warmly welcomed Those male persons who desire fo obtain employment, though not desirous of applying for relief benefits, should call at tho local labour bureau. They will then be put in touch with the jilaeomont officer, who will give to their problem the same careful consideration that is given in the case of registered relief workers.