CONTROL OF INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 1

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY

National Service POWERS OF NEW REGULATIONS. p.A. WELLINGTON, May 21. Far-reaching amendments to the National Emergency Regulations, and new Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, were tinnounced bv Mr. Semple, to-day. He said the amendments were to tnat part of the regulations dealing witn national service outside the armed forces and particularly with the direction of persons to work of national importance. A new amendment aimed at ensuring that the man and woman p.iwer concerned would be fully utilises through the provision of th guaranteed weekly remuneration, as fixed by the Minister of Labour for workcrs. Another amendment placed an obligation on the employer to make work available as required by the Mh’ister of Labour of the Controller. Mr. Semple said there might be delay in fixing the minimum guarantee for every essential industry but the Minister of Labour could make the guarantee retrospective to Mav 18. Mr. Semple reiterated that no employer, without proper consent, could engage any worker ,who left an essential undertaking without proper authority. If an employer failed m rhis obligation, he committed an of-

fence. Where a worker was reffistaled after dismissal, or lost time at tending an employer's appeal which was dismissed, the employer could be required to pav the worker for all or any part of the time lost. Provis on was now made for the District Manpower Office to consent to the termination of employment at less than seven days’ notice, so that if a worker’s normal work were abolished, he could be transferred to another position without the termination of his engagement. The. power of the Minister of National Service to direct any person to perform any service outside vne armed forces, had now been extended i<? apf iy to companies, corporations, am. associations. Individuals transferred from one employment to another m this wav are to be given the same rights of occupational re-estaoi-sii-ment as if they nad been called up tor military service. anomer amendment peaces an obligation on employers to see that ah persons employed have enrolled in the Emergency Reserve Corps.

Rawer has been taken to require an employer to give traimng or employment to persons directed to worn of national importance performed by his ractorv or business,

Otner amendments include, the deduction of union fees irom wages.

The Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, said the Min.sler, placed an' obligation on employers to make work available during ordinary working Hours, and on employees to be available for work during those hours. In addition, an employer in an essential mdustrv or undertaking ma v be required to keep his concern working curing specified additional hours, and to require workers to work during those hours. There were penalties tor Doth employers ana workers who, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with such requirements. A worker must not absent himself without leave or reasonable excuse, but it was not intended to penalise a loyal ano. willing worker for isolated absence. The penal clauses were designed to deal .with deliberate defaulters and persons who were habitually or persistently late for work. The District Manpower Officer was given power to require an employer to deduct from wages up to two days’ pa v in cases of persistent or habitual lateness, or of continued absence o.; four hours or more. Right of appeal to the Manpower Committee was provided. The amount deducted would go into the War Expenses’ Account.