XN000022-1986-09-21 — Page 8

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1986

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EMPLOYERS MAY SEEK EXTRA OVERTIME HOURS

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EMPLOYERS WHO ARE PRESSED BY SUDDEN ORDERS, A BREAKDOWN OF MACHINERY OR OTHER UNFORESEEN EMERGENCY, CAN APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL OVERTIME HOURS FOR THE IR WOMEN WORKERS BEFORE THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE IR ANNUAL QUOTA.

UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, THE OVERTIME QUOTA FOR A WOMAN WORKER IS 200 HOURS A YEAR.

HOWEVER, IT IS APPRECIATED THAT SOME EMPLOYERS MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF USING UP THE PERMISSIBLE HOURS OF OVERTIME BY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

+ IN SUCH A CASE, THEY CAN APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR FOR ADDITIONAL HOURS IN ORDER TO MEET THE IR PRODUCTION NEEDS,+ A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

+BUT THE APPLICATION MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN WORKERS AFFECTED.

+EMPLOYERS MUST ALSO BE READY TO SHOW TO THE DEPARTMENT THE POSITION OF AN ORDER IN HAND TO JUSTIFY EXTRA OVERTIME HOURS,+ HE ADDED.

THE USUAL PRACTICE IS FOR EMPLOYERS TO APPLY FOR 50 ADDITIONAL HOURS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, AND ANOTHER 50 HOURS, IF NECESSARY, AT A LATER STAGE.

DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 146 600 WOMEN WORKERS IN INDUSTRIES WERE REPORTED TO HAVE PERFORMED OVERTIME WORK, COMPAREL WITH 141 700 IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT APPROVED NINE APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL OVERTIME HOURS,

THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON EMPLOYERS WHO ARE NOT FULLY AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW TO CONTACT THE SENIOR LABOUR INSPECTOR IN CHARGE OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS OFFICE IN THE IR DISTRICT.

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