OVERTIME RATES OF PAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21836, 13 December 1940, Page 6

OVERTIME RATES OF PAY

Strong Views Expressed By Farmers By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 12 Overtime rates of pay were discussed at a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union and strong views were expressed about overtime rates being fixed by the time of day irrespective of the number of hours which had been worked. For Instance, it was stated that a worker coming on in the late afternoon in some cases started on the overtime rate immediately after 5 o’clock. Exception was taken also to overtime being paid regardless of time lost by the worker during the week, and it was stated that a worker who had absented himself for several days had to be placed on overtime rates in some industries regardless of the amount of time he had worked during the week. It was urged by speakers that if shift work were necessary because of the shortage of labour, it should be Introduced, but there should be no strong differentiation in payment as related to the date or the day the worker was asked to put in a shift. The folowing resolution was adopted: “That in the Interests of the Dominion’s war effort, the Government be asked to extend working hours at ordinary rates of pay in all State and local body work and industries supplying the essential needs of consumers and producers.”