UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEMES

Evening Star, Issue 22560, 30 January 1937, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF SCHEMES

STAND-DOWN PERIODS AND 5 PLACEMENT TRADE UNION TRANSFERENCES ■Consequent upon the inauguration of the State placement scheme, considerable conflict of ideas has been indicated by many associated directly with the three respective systems to reduce unemployment—relief, sustenance, and placement. “ Stand-down ” periods have also led to a multiplicity of wrong impressions. The general principles, as they are officially explained, are easy to follow STATE PLACEMENT SERVICE. No consideration of influence is given in the placing of unemployed workers in vacancies which are notified to the State placement office. Suitability for employment offering is the primary factor, all cases being fully investigated, and past services verbified, before positions are allocated. It is advisable for all unemployed men to register with the placement officer, who endeavours to supply them with congenial employment. The underlying principle of the acceptance of work, where possible at their trades, by men receiving unemployment relief, is the ultimate obviation of the necessity for unemployment taxation. Thus relief recipients are encouraged to secure private employment wherever possible. It is not necessary to be in receipt of unemployment relief, however, to secure the services of the placement service. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. Unemployment relief is granted to physically fit men who are genuinely unemployed and over the age of 20 years. It is evident that some misconception of the position regarding the “ etand*down ” periods still exists, despite the willingness of the ; Labour Bureau to supply data relevant to all cases. All registrants who have been off relief for three months or longer are required to observe a 14-day stand-down period. Should the circumstances surrounding any particular case be considered specially necessitous, this period may be reduced at the discretion of the district employment officer. The suggestions sometimes are _ advanced that the full amount of private earnings is set off against subsequent relief, and that the “ stand-down ” period varies according to that of private employment. These ideas are incorrect. The maximum “ stand-down ” period is 14 days, irrespective of the duration of private employment and the total amount of private earnings. The assessment method connected with scheme No. 5 and sustenance payments differs, in that workers under scheme No. 5 are required to furnish declarations of income at eight-weekly periods, the relief to be granted for the ensuing eight weeks being determined hy the income so declared. The sustenance men, however, must supply weekly declarations of income. In determining the amount of sustenance to be granted the total assessable income (including relief) for the previous week is deducted from the maximum allowable income of the applicant. The difference represents the sustenance to which he is entitled, provided, of course, that this figure does not exceed the classified ration of relief of the worker. If scheme No. 5 workers and sustenance recipients finding private employment are not off relief for more than three months, they are granted relief immediately upon again becoming unemployed. In the first week of sustenance, however, the allowance is determined after the declared earnings

of the previous week have been taken into account.

Full particulars regarding permissible private earnings or income affecting eligibility for unemployment relief

are conspicuously displayed at the < Unemployment Bureau, whilst additional information will be supplied to any worker on application. UNION TRANSFERS. An interesting position has arisen regarding transference from one trade union to another. Some years ago a system prevailed whereby members of respective unions could obtain a transfer without payment of another entrance fee. This has since been revoked. The present position is that no reciprocity exists between the freezing workers and New Zealand Workers’ Union and the others. Thus a worker in a freezing works would be obliged to pay 25s (the price of an annual membership ticket), when he joined that body. It is, however, impossible for him to regain, or have transferred, the unconsumed portion of this fee should his employment with the freezing works end before a year has elapsed. In the event of his employment m any trade other than those covered by the Freezing Workers’ Union, it would be necessary for him to pay a further admission or enrolment fee_ to the union covering his new vocation. This obtains also in the case of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Reciprocity exists, however, among other unions, making possible a transference from one to another without forfeiture or repayment of the initial membership fee. Weekly contributions only are collected as usual by the union to which the person is transferred. ■