Workers’ Paid Holiday

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1943, Page 6

Workers’ Paid Holiday

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Alleging that. the recently-announced decision of the Cabinet granting a fiveday paid holiday period to all workers, not otherwise entitled to paid annual holidays, in the coming holiday season is a breach of the Stabilisation Regulations, the secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation (Mr. C. G. Camp) said that in his statement to the Press on Saturday relative to the granting of a paid rest period of five days to all workers not entitled to annual holidays on pay under the terms of their award or agreement, the Minister of Labour specifically referred to workers in heavy industries as comprising the majority of employees not having the benefit of a paid annual holiday. The Minister had either conveniently overlooked a number of very obvious facts or else he had been incorrectly informed on the terms of employment of many workers who-will now benefit from the decision. "In the first place workers whose terms of employment do not include the provision of paid holidays are generally compensated by the payment of a relatively higher hourly rate of wages under their particular award or industrial agreement,” said Mr. Camp. "This fact is known and recognised by workers and employers. Secondly, it must he pointed out that the new Regulations constitute an actual breach of the. Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations. 1042, and this has been authorised by Cabinet. "For a lesser period of duty workers in the industries affected are to receive an aggregate sum equivalent to that payable if they had worked full time. Tints the real wage rate will have boon increased by £750.000 per annum and a breach ol' the Slnbiisation Provisions will result. “The -Minister's statement omits to mention that employers’ organisations were never at any stage consulted in the matter. Rather has it been stressel that the principle of holidays with pay has now been accepted by employers generally in New Zealand, a statement which is rather at variance with fact and which, on behalf of the employers of this Dominion, is officially denied. "A substantial body of employers would have no objection to the granting of holidays on pay provided that a corresponding adjustment in wage rates took place. To do otherwise would but serve to jettison the principle of stabilisation and to increase costs in industries directly associated with war production.” Mr. Webb’s Reply The Minister tor Labour (lion. P. Webb) said today that Saturday’s statement by the secretary of the Employers’ Federation concerning the industrial'rest period emergency regulations, conveyed the wrong impression and also contained several misstatements regarding the effect of the regulations. Mr. Webb said it was well known that the workers' organisations had endeavoured for years to obtain provision for annual holidays with pay. It was estimated that 153,000 workers covered by awards and industrial agreements received annual holidays of five to fourteen days and in some cases throe weeks. Approximately 72,000 workers had no such provision, although a large proportion of the 72,000 would receive holidays voluntarily granted by the employers during the Christmas period. A number of employers told him prior to ihe issue of the regulations that they proposed to grant such paid holidays, although not bound to do so.

Having regard to the relatively small number of workers who would not enjoy a. paid rest at Christmas time, compulsorily or voluntarily, the figure of €750,000 Avages increase quoted Avas grossly OA’erstated. Mr. Webb also denied that a breach of the stabilisation regulations Avonld result. Section 3 of the Emergency Regulations Act, 1030, provided full power to make such emergency regulation as might be found necessary for maintaining essential services, and generally for safeguarding the interests and maintaining and promoting the Avelfare of the community. Apart from industrial fatigue, it was Avell known to the Employers' Federation and employers generally that the situation this year Avas causing considerable unrest among workers throughout the Dominion both on .account of the loss of paid special holidays due to the incidence of Christmas and Now Year’s Days, and also because of tlie prolonged strain due to the Avar effort. Since the regulations Avere issued, lie had reeeiA-ed messages from employers Aveleoming a definite break which brought all workers into line. MoreoA’er, before making the announcement, he had personally attended a conference of Avorkers* and employers’ organisations and fully stated tlie Government's intentions before the regulations Avere either signed or announced.