CHARTER OF LABOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 2

CHARTER OF LABOUR

> DEALINGS* IN ITALY. FASCIST. DECLARATION. Received April 23, 12.20 p.m. ROME, April 22. The “charter of labour, which henceforth will be the basis of labour dealings throughout Italy, has been issued by the Fascist Grand Council. It contains thirty articles setting out the details of the obligations of the “Corporative State and its organisation.” The following is a summary thereof: The Italian nation is a superior power to the single individuals occupying and forming it. It is a moral, political and economc unity with historic realisation in the Fascist State. Unions of employers or - workmen are free, but only organisations legally recognised are permitted to represent employers or workers in the industry concerned. The Magistrature of Labour is tlie organ whereby the State intervenes to regulate labour controversies in connection with the existing regulations or new conditions. * The State considers private enterprise for nations the most' efficacious and most useful instrument. Employers are responsible for production, and collaboration between the productive forces entails reciprocal fights and duties. Employers must promote increased production together with % reduction in costs. _ State intervention is permissible only when private enterprise is insufficient or political interests are involved. Such intervention can assume the form of direct management. Every collective labour contract under penalty of nullification must contain precise disciplinary regulations. Wages must approximate to the normal exigencies of life. Workers must' scrupulously observe working hours. After one year’s uninterrupted service an employee has tlie right to an annual holiday on pay. In the event of any. undertaking changing hands the workmen preserve their rights .under the new owners. A collective contract exte«de the benefits’ of discipline to the home. Workers’ unions must aim constantly at increasing the workman’s technical capacity and moral value. Labour exchanges must give preference to Fascists. The Fascist State proposes to. improve accident and maternity insurance and also the general insurance against illness and -unemployment in collective contracts. The creation of mutual funds for the sick will be established with contributions by employers and employees. —A. and N.Z. cable.