ESSENTIAL WORKERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 2

ESSENTIAL WORKERS

OBLIGATION ON EMPLOYERS. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This. Day. No employer may engage any worker who leaves an essential industry or undertaking without the consent in writing of a district manpower officer. This was stressed by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, last evening. “It should be clearly understood,” said the Minister, “that this applies to every employer in the country. The obligation is placed on every employer, when engaging labour, to verify whether or not the applicant last worked in an undertaking declared to be essential; and, if so, whether he had the consent in writing of a district manpower officer to his termination of employment in that undertaking. “If the employer finds that the applicant has left an essential undertaking without consent, he should refer the application to the nearest district manpower officer, and only if that officer consents may the applicant be engaged. Any employer engaging such a person without consent commits an offence under the regulations, and is liable on conviction to a penalty of £5O or three months’ imprisonment. This applies to all engagements of labour, women as well as men, made since May 21.”