AMENDENTS MADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 118, 22 May 1942, Page 3

AMENDENTS MADE

MANPOWER REGULATION ! COMPULSION FOR EMPLOYERS’ AND EMPLOYEES (P.A.) Wellington, May 21. j Far-reaching amendments to the| National Emergency Regulations and new Industrial Absenteeism Em erg-1 ency Regulations were announced by the Minister of National Service, Hon. R. Semple, to-da>. He said the amendments were to that part, of the regulations dealing with national service outside the armed forces and particularly with the direction of persons to work of national importance. A new amendment aimed at ensuring that the man-po\v°r and womanpower concerned would be fully utilised through the provision of a guaranteed weekly remuneration as lixed by the Minister of Labour for workers. Another amendment placed an obligation on the employer to make work available as required by the Minister of Labour or Controller. Essential Undertakings. Mr. Semple said there might be delay in fixing the minimum guarantee for every essential industry, but the Minister of Labour could make a guarantee retrospective to May 18. Mr. Semple reiterated that no employer, without proper consent, could engage any worker who left an essential undertaking without proper authority. If an employer failed in this obligation he committed an offence. Where the worker was reinstated after dismissal or lost time attending i an employers’ appeal which was dismissed the employer could be required to pay the worker for all or any part of the time lost. Provision was now made for the district manpower officer to consent to the termination of employment al less than seven days notice, so that if a worker’s normal work was abolished he could be transferred to another position without termination of his engagement. The power of the Minister of National Service to direct any person to » perform any service outside the armed 1 forces was* now extended to companies, corporations and associations. Individuals transferred from one em- - ployment to another in this way are i given the same rights to occupational re-establishment as if they had been I called up for military service. Compulsory Enrolment. Another amendment places an ’ obligation on employers to see that all persons employed have enrolled in the Emergency Reserve Corps. Power has been taken to require the employer to give training or employment to persons directed to work ol national im- ’ portahce performed by his factory or s business. _ Other amendments include one which states that the district man- ’ power officer may, if necessary, direct . a deduction of union fees from wages. ' The Industrial Absenteeism Emergency Regulations, said the Minister, placed an obligation on employers to make work available during ordinary s working hours and on employees to ’ be available for work during those hours. In addition an employer in an essential industry or undertaking may s be required to keep his concern working during specified additional hours and to require workers to work during ’ those hours. Penalties Fixed. There were penalties for both em- - ployers and workers who, without rea- . sonable excuse, failed to comply with such requirements. The worker must - not absent himself without leave or [ reasonable excuse, but it was not in tended to penalise loyal and willing workers for isolated * absence. The penal clauses were designed to deal with deliberate defaulters and persons who were habitually or persistently late for work. The district manpower officer was given power to require employers to deduct from wages up to two days’ 1 pay in cases of persistent, or habitual lateness or of continued absence of four hours or more. The right of ap- • peal to the Manpower Committee was provided. The amount deducted 1 would go into the War Expenses Account.