XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 46

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

REASONS WHY IMPORT OF LABOUR HAS TO BE RESISTED

I

SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESISTED CALLS FOR A RELAXATION OF IMMIGRATION RULES TO PERMIT THE LARGE-SCALE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR WERE STATED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SIR DAVID NOTED THAT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH LABOUR SHORTAGES IN BOOM CONDITIONS HAD RECENTLY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF WIDE PUBLIC DISCUSSION, AND WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE.

"WE HAVE LONG FOLLOWED THE POLICY OF ALLOWING WAGES AND OTHER INCOMES TO BE DECIDED GENERALLY BY THE FORCES OF THE MARKETPLACE. THIS HAS, OVER THE YEARS, ENABLED US TO ENSURE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE EXPORT INDUSTRIES ON WHICH OUR ECONOMY, AS WELL AS THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF OUR WORKFORCE, DEPENDS SO HEAVILY.

PLOYMENT WHICH

"IT HAS ALSO GIVEN US THE LOW LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT MUST BE WIDELY ENVIED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

OUR ECONOMY 13

LABOUR MARKET, CONDITIONS THE

"THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS COIN IS THAT, WHEN BOOMING AND EXPORTS ARE DOING WELL, THERE IS A TIGHT WITH DEMAND FOR LABOUR EXCEEDING SUPPLY. IN THESE LOGIC OF OUR SYSTEM MEANS THAT COMPETITION FOR LABOUR BIDS UP WAGES.

"IN THIS WAY, IN TIMES OF PROSPERITY, OUR WORKERS GET THEIR FAIR AND DESERVED SHARE OF THE BIGGER OVERALL CAKE.

"ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE IS THAT INDUSTRIALISTS INVEST IN NEW LABOUR SAVING MACHINERY. THIS TENDS ΤΟ INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND HELPS UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS."

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGET IN DEALING WITH CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT HAD BEEN TO ACHIEVE CONDITIONS BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST PREVAILING IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WHOSE STAGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND WAS SIMILAR TO OUR OWN.

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'IN PURSUIT OF THIS OBJECTIVE THE GOVERNMENT ITEMS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. COMPLACENT. RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH QUITE RIGHTLY INCREASING SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. SO WE MUST CONTINUE STANDARDS.

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NOT TO

HAS ENACTED BUT WE ARE GIVES RIJE то IMPROVE OUR

THE GOVERNOR OBSERVED THAT A HIGH LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY HAD UNFORTUNATELY ALSO BROUGHT WITH IT AN INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, IN SPITE OF ALL THE EFFORTS THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY EMPLOYERS, WORKERS AND THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THIS SESSION ΤΟ IMPOSE ON BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES A GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK; TO INTRODUCE CUSTODIAL SENTENCES FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES; AND TO CONTROL DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES USED INDUSTRY. HE ADDED.

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