Workers in Shops and Offices

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 1423, 19 June 1936, Page 6

Workers in Shops and Offices

CAN APPLY FOR 40-HOUR WE.„ Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. What appears to be a misconception about tho application of the 40-hour week to workers in' shops and offices was cleared up to-day by the Minister of Labour (Hou. 11. T. Armstrong), who made it clear that all workers registered under awards had the right to apply for a 40-hour week, irrespective of legislative stipulations. It was pointed out to Mr Armstrong that the general interpretation of the Shops and Offices Amendment Act was that workers under that Act could not secure anything less than a 44-hour week. Mr Armstrong said that this was a misconception. Workers registered under any award covered by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration legislation were entitled to apply, when making a new award demands, for a 40-hour week. “When 1 stipulated a 44-hour week iu the Shops and Office* Amendment Bill it was to make sure that there would bo some statu-, tory reduction. Tho working week under the existing legislation for those workers was 4S hours, and this Bill made sure that they would secure a reduction of four hours. There is no appeal beyond that figure. They cannot bo made to w-ork longer hours by tho Court, but they can still apply for even shorter hours, and if they make new demands they can now apply to the Court for a 40-hour week.”