§ 8. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether he will make it clear to employers, employed and officers of Employment Exchanges that a workman employed in a factory engaged on work of national importance, is entitled to search for other employment and leave his job, provided he can satisfy the authorities concerned that his prospective employment is nearer his home and is on work of similar national importance?
§ Mr. BevinThe Undertakings (Restriction on Engagement) Order, 1940, provides that a worker seeking to be engaged for work in the engineering, the civil engineering contracting, or the building industries, shall register himself for work at a local office, and obtain his employment by means of being submitted to an employer by the local office. In such cases, therefore, workers should not search for work on their own account. There is no corresponding restriction in other cases, except that men previously employed in coal-mining or agriculture cannot take new employment outside their industries, unless such employment is obtained through an Employment Exchange or appropriate trade union approved for the purpose.
§ Mr. DaviesIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a hardship upon a man if he is compelled to work in a munition factory half time when he can find work full time at the same kind of employment, and still be doing national work?