THE BASIC WAGE

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1936, Page 2

THE BASIC WAGE

Warning to Employers

Interviewed yesfterday by an “Argus” representative, Mr C. 11. Hoskin, Inspector o f Awards, at Greymouth, said that he desired to draw the' attention of all employers to the effect} of the Arbitration Court’s Basic Wage Order, in the case of workers covered by awards or industrial agreements, where the minimum' weekly wage prescribed by an award for adult workers is less than £3 16s (males); and £1 16s (females), per week, as fixed by order of the Court.Section Three of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Ac'?, 1936, provides “while any general order fixing .a basic rate of wages remains in force, no adult male or female worker, the conditions of whose employment are fixed by any award or industrial agreement, shall receive less than the basic rate of wages for male or fe-m'ale workers, as the case may be, anything to the eontlrary in any such laward or industrial agreement notwithstanding ” A case in point, said Mr Hoskin, was the Tea Room and Restaurant Em. ployees’ Award, where the weekly wage for certain classes of adult workers ‘was less tihan the basic wage. He said that it appeared that the basic wage order would apply particularly to probationer waitresses and male night workers, including porters and bar attendants, and also tio some classes of lower-paid kitchen hands, porters and general hand's. The provision of the Basi c "Wage Order had been given wide publicity in every centre, and it was the duty of every employer to mak c - himself fully acquainted with his responsibilities V.o those in his employ who came under the provisions of the Court’s order