CIVIL POSTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 6

CIVIL POSTS

RETENTION FOR SOLDIERS EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATIOIMS CHANGES . IN REGULATIONS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON,: Nov. 7. Several important changes are contained in the occupational re-establish-ment emergency regulations, 1940, which were gazetted to-night.- The regulations replace those of a similar nature framed year. : The previous regulations required an employer by whom a-person,: was employed when he was accepted .for service with, the/ armed ' forces■ to reinstate that employee, 'bn^ discharge or" during any period of leaVeXwithout pay. The new regulations place the obligation of reinstatement on the ernployer by whom the-worker was employed immediately prior, to his offering hiirself or to his being called r up. The obligation applies only to' employees who have been employed for at least four weeks immediately prior to their volunteering or being called up. Such workers on their reinstatement must be retained for at least six months, unless dismissed for : a reason hot connected with:this obligation. •'.-.'-." :.'•"'■;;■•'■ '. '' ~J 'i' : '

The previous regulations made it an offence to dismiss any employee for the purpose of evading or attempting to evade the obligation under the regulations, or in expectancy that an employee would be accepted for service with the armed forces. This: provision is now extended to . coyer . the. case of an employer. dismissing a worker after he has been accepted, but before he actually takes. UP his: duites with 4he forces. -* The hew regulations also provide that where more than one worker is eligible for reinstatement the order of priority shall be the order- in which they were' released;"but;:*-as an employer will -now'be, requiuedijtovietain any reinstated person for ..hot.less,, than six months, it is provided' that when one such person is reinstated, the right of his successors to reinstatement forthwith lapses. Provision is also made that, where an employee other than an apprentice is called- for territorial training, as distinct from military service, the period of such training .up to a maximum of six ,months, ...in,, year is to be regarded as time' served under his contract-' of service'' in civil employ ment for the purposes of increments and annual holidays, out during any period of absence from employment during training the parties are relieved of their obligations relating to the payment of remunerations, the. performance of work, etc. These regulations do not applv to contracts of apprenticeship, which have 'already been dealt" with under the, suspensions of apprenticeship emergency., regulations '1939. * '":'■' '' "'" ':•'-:-:-•■■ ■ -..