Seven-day Week Urged For British Factories

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 203, 27 August 1941, Page 9

Seven-day Week Urged For British Factories

DAY’S REST FOR WORKERS RUGBY, Aug. 25. The recommendation that British war factories should work seven days a week is made by a sub-committee appointed by the Helect Committee on National Expenditure. Workpeople should, however, have one day's rest, in seven, the committee states, and it suggests that negotiations should bo conducted with the trade unions to make arrangements whereby a six-day week for workpeople may be fitted into a seven-day week for factories. The desirability of the managements taking the workers completely into their confidence also is emphasised. Interesting facts relating to the great increase in output immediately following the fall of France are given in the report, which states: “After that melancholy event, working hours increased to as much as 72 a week and resulted In a remarkable increase in output.” At the end of a few weeks, output dropped and hours became shorter. The committee reports that a 60-hour week is still worked by some factories, and recommends that the Industrial Health Research Board should consider the question of the “best length of the working week for a wide range of different kinds of work.”