HC Deb 27 June 1938 vol 337 cc1552-3W
Mr. G. Hall

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that complaints are made by the workmen employed by a contractor carrying out work for his Department in Hirwaun, South Wales, that they are not being paid the district rates of wages for this work, and that workmen residing in the vicinity where the work is in progress were put off work, whereas men brought in from another district were asked to work over- time; and whether he will make inquiries into this matter with the view of the district rate of wages being paid to those men?

Sir W. Womersley

The failure to pay the appropriate wage was due to an over-sight for which the contractor has ex-pressed regret. He has undertaken to rectify the error and pay arrears due. I am informed that certain men were paid off because their work was not satisfactory; also that the overtime required was almost all on the duties of four key men and could not have been avoided.

Mr. G. Hall

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the complaint made by unemployed men in Hirwaun, South Wales, against a contractor who is carrying out work for his Department in that district, that a number of workmen were brought in from another district to do this work when a large number of unemployed men were available on the spot; and will he see that instructions are given to con- tractors that preference should be given to unemployed men resident in the districts where the work is carried out?

Sir W. Womersley

I am informed that all the labour concerned in the contract in question was recruited from Hirwaun or Merthyr, with the exception of four key men who were brought from another job which the same contractor was carrying out. Contractors are enjoined to notify the appropriate Employment Exchange when additional labour is required to carry out a contract. It is not possible to dictate to them the source from which they should recruit their labour, but most of them, I think, act on the principle that local labour should be employed as far as circumstances permit.

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