Factory Conditions

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 110, 22 April 1936, Page 9

Factory Conditions

AMENDING BILL Provision Outlined by the Minister PAY & HOURS OF WORK By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 21. New conditions for work in factories are laid down in the Factories Amendment Bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The Bill generally follows the lines discussea by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in his reference to its provisions in a recent interview, and in the main extends the Government's industrial policy as embodied in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amend- * ment Bill to factories legislation. Among the most important provisions in the Bill are those relating to hours of work, and the principle of the 40hour week is extended to factories in the same manner as it Is proposed to extend it to other industries. Maximum hours of work are restricted to 40 a week, eight a day, and 4j Lours continuously without an interval of at least three-quarters of an hour for a meal. Women and boys under 16 are not to be employed on any Sunday, holiday or half-holiday, nor between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 am. There is recognition of the fact that an award of the Arbitration Court can hx the hours of work above 40, but a clause in the Bill places the existing maximum number of hours in any factory as the limit to which the Court ‘•an go in computing the number of hours for male workers over the age of 18.

No account is to be taken of the time employed in getting steam for machinery or in making preparations 'or work.

There is right for employers to approach the Arbitration Court to show that a reduction in working hours is impracticable in any factory, but definite limits are placed on extensions which the Court may grant. Women or boys may not be employed for more than 4-5 hours a week, ci 8{ hours a day. while the limit for male workers is a 48-hour week, or an 8> hour day. Another important section lays down without any qualification that no worker shall be employed in a dairy factory or creamery for more than six days a week. OVERTIME BATES. I Rates of pay for overtime prescribed in the main Act are increased from time and a quarter to time and a half, while the minimum time rate is increased to 1/6 an hour. Under the Act, men employed in bush sawmills solely »n breaking down sawing and logging rough timber were entitled to overtime only after working 48 hours a week. The Bill providss

that they will receive overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40 a week. The meal allowance of 1/- in the original Act is increased to 1/6. As in tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Hill, there is provision that when workers are engaged on an hourly basis the reduction in the number of working hours a week shall not be allowed to reduce the weekly pay. If an employee works overtime so that there is a breach ol the proviuions of the Bill, he will still be entitled to overtime payment.

The practice of some employers in giving work out to be done elsewhere than in the factory, is dealt with in the Bill. The sweating provisions of the main Act can be applied by Order-in-Council to this class of work with exceptions in the cases of textile oi shoddy material. Another clause provides that work let out or given out by the occupier of a factory, if performed outside of a registered factory, shall be done only by the person who holds a licence granted by the Inspector of lactones only. One such licence may be granted for every ten persons employed in a particular factory. Licences will be for a period not exceeding 12 months, and will be granted only to people who are in necessitous circumstances, or who, lor special reasons, are unable to work in a factory. MINIMUM RATE OF WAGES. Further important provisions deal with the minimum rates of wages. Un der the main Act the rate was set out at 10/- a week, with annual increments of 5/- until the wage reached 30/-. The. commencing minimum rate under the Bill is to be 15/- a week, with annual increments of not less than 5/- a week for the second and third years, and 7/6 a week for each subsequent year until a wage of £2 was reached.

Provision is also made for broken employment. Boxing Day and Anzac Day are added to the list of statutory hole days in factories. There is provision for payment for statutory holidays, and periods are laid down ranging from four days to a fortnight for which workers have to be employed before they are entitled to such a holiday pay. A minimum of 1/6 an hour is fixed for overtime worked on statutory holidays. At present there is no power for an Inspector to require the occupier of a factory to take action to prevent any accident to workers except in regard to machinery. Under the Bill an inspector is empowered to call upon the occupier to repair or safeguard any pari of the factory for the safety of em plovees.

The period during which proceedings may be instituted for breaches of the Act when it comes into force is extended from three months to six months.

A special clause in the Bill deals with working hours, rates of pay and overtime in laundries, the main provisions of the Bill being incorporated. Another amendment made by the committee provides that the basic wage for adult male workers shall be based on what is sufficient t<s maintain a wife and three children, instead of a wife and two children, as proposed in tho original Bill.

Before an inspector grants a licence he has to be satisfied that the place where the work is to be done is suitable, and that the rate of remuneration is at least equivalent to the factory rate.

There is right of appeal to a magistrate in cases where inspectors refuse to issue licences.