52/60-HOUR WEEK

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 4

52/60-HOUR WEEK

STRAIN ON BRITISH WOMEN IN MUNITION FACTORIES (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 5.5) LONDON', June 7.There recently was a comment by Mr J. O. Liddell, the chairman of an Auckland (N.Z.) Manpower (Industrial) Committee that “It has been shown here and in England that it is not possible to work women more than 37 hours a week.” Mr Liddell’s remarks were made during the hearing on April 7 last of appeals by employers against the action of a Manpower Officer in directing ten women machinists in the clothing trade to more essential clothing factories. Mr Liddell’s comment w.as referred in London to an official of the British Ministry of Labour. His reply was: “British •women certainly are working a lot more than 37 hours weekly. The normal week worked by women in munition factories where tanks, guns and aeroplanes are being made is 52 hours. This is exclusive of the time for meals .and of breaks, and in some cases women work up to 60 hours a week, including their overtime. The pairt-'time workers clo less, their maximum being 30 hours weekly.

ON 48-HOUR WEEK. ' , BRITISH WOMEN CLOTHING TRADE WORKERS (Rec. 9.30) LONDON, June 9. The New Zealand M’s. P.. Messrs Endean and Lowry, when visiting a number of factories in Britain during the provincial tour, found that eight hours was the normal working day. In some special cases it was 10 hours, although the general tendency was to cut do\yp excessive hours to prevent strain/' An official of the Board of. Trade Department. Ministry of Labour, stated: “A 48-hour week has been declared normal in the clothing trade and beyond the 48 hours overtime is payable. Juveniles under sixteen worked 44 hours weekly. I do not think you will find anyone in the clothing trade in Bri;taiin working 37 hours a week to-day, unless it is in a small repair shop, depending on customers. Most, certainly, do not work less than 48 hours, but. probably more. It has been found that absenteeism is greatest among part-time workers, but generally speaking absenteeism is dlie to sickness in the home, or shopping requirements.” Miss Marjorie Skill, of Wellington, who is a part-time worker in an electrical equipment factory, said:— “Full-time workers in our factory work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. There are two breaks of ten minutes each, and an hour for lunch. These breaks are tremendously valuable.”