§ 9. Commander Keransasked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the working of the Payment of Wages Act, 1960; and what evidence he has of an increase in the payment of wages by cheque or money orders, in view of the increasing incidence of theft of moneys for wages in transit.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am not aware of any difficulty in connection with the operation of this Act. Up to the present, there does not appear to have been any widespread change in methods of wage payment.
§ Commander KeransIs my hon. Friend aware that wage thefts continue to increase? Is it not time for a measure of compulsion in certain areas to enforce the Payment of Wages Act, 1960, where necessary? Can we not give greater publicity to the benefits of the Act? How much money has been stolen in the last 12 months?
§ Mr. WhitelawI naturally agree that the robberies are serious, and everyone is rightly concerned about them. Under the Act, the proposal for payment otherwise than in cash must come from the 10 workers. This is an important safeguard, and I would not agree that we would be justified in departing from it. I cannot give my hon. and gallant Friend the robbery figures.