OVERTIME PAYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 66

OVERTIME PAYMENT.

INTERPRETATION OF AWARD. AN IMPORTANT OPINION. The Arbitration Court ha 3 filed on interpretation of the Otago brewers, bottlers, bottie workers, and aerated water employees’ award on a point that was at ißcue. The interpretation is as follo.vs. i iii provisions of clause 6 (which was d'.sputedi relate to " all time worked beyond the hours mentioned in clause 1.” Under clause 1 weekly hours arc fixed aTid provision is made for fixing the daily hours (vide Wellington drivers’ interpretation). Clause 6 does not differentiate between daily and weekly overtime, and must be construed as applying to both. The decision in the Manavvatu flaxmdll employees’ case is not in point, far the overtime clause in the award under consideration in that case specifically related to overtime over the week. In any event, overtime over the day is payable under the Factories Act when provision has been made in the award for fixing the daily hours of work, but the present award deaN independently of the Act, with both daily and weekly overtime. If, therefore, on any day overtime is worked, it is t-o be paid for at the tele of time and a-half for the first three hours and double time thereafter; but if the total weekly hours exceed the prescribed number the rate of overtime payment must be made up to double time for all overtime hours worked in excess of three hours for the week. If, however, the total weekly hours do not exceed the prescribed number, even though overtime has been worked on two or three days, day stands by itself, and the overtime for each day is separately computed. The interpretation was given at the request of the Inspector of Awards.