NationStates Jolt Archive

Associated Press Report

Port Fnord, XA - In a bizzarre turn of events, His Supreme Holiness, Emporer Hoobaju, has declared his small nation to be in a state of "economic crisis", the immediate action to the alleged crisis was the enactment of article 7 of UN Resolution 59 (The 40 Hour Workweek), thereby suspending articles 1-6 of the same resolution. The sudden move by the Emperor came as a bit of a surprise to the common citizenry who were under the impression that the Imperial economy was doing quite Reasonable. The Precious Moa Button has shown seen a steady rise as of late as the markets begin to turn around, making His Imperial Divine Will all the more confusing to those outside the Royal Temple complex.

Official Press Release from the Imperial Ministry of Fisheries & Public Relations:

Our current Economic **redacted**, is expected to pass shortly, we are asking all citizens to continue as **redacted**, His Supreme **redacted** has the best interests of his people and nation in mind, and we are working with **redacted** allied nations to bring this current **redacted** to a swift conclusion.

thank you
**redacted** **redacted****redacted** Fisheries & **redacted** **redacted**
**redacted****redacted****redacted**

Until such time and International Laws cease to create National Emergency through Economic Tzarism, the Holy Empire of Hoobajuia will stictly enforce the following policies:

1. The maximum standardized full-time workweek shall be set at 40 hours within a seven day week. Imperial Prefectures shall remain free to set their workweek lower than this.

2. No one may be obligated/coerced into working more than 40 hours per week, except for the following exemptions,
a ) military personnel
b ) Imperial defense forces
c ) civilian emergency response personnel
d ) Those who wilfully enter into private legal contracts, forgoing their entitlement to additonal pay as determinied by article 5; including but not limited to: Salaried, Retained, Per Item, and Commision paid employees

3. No one may be contractually obligated to remain on the worksite without pay.

4. On call hours shall be counted at one half value towards the 40 hour limit. On-Call hours are defined as hours in which the employee is expected to be available for work on short notice, but is not actually working

(e.g., Edward, over the course of the week, is On Call for 20 hours and actually working for 30 hours, he has now reached his 40 hour mark, any additional hours of on call duty or actual work will meet the criteria of article 5)

5. Work exceeding 40 hours per week that is voluntarily undertaken shall be paid at a rate of at least time and a half or an equivalent pro-rata time off in lieu. Imperial Prefectures shall remain free to set their allowable overtime hours lower and their overtime pay rates higher than specified in this edict.

6. The 40 hour week shall be implemented in a manner that does not reduce the standard of living of the workers. Imperial Prefectures shall enact the laws needed to comply with the 40 hour week within 1 month of today and they may phase in the changes over the course of up to 1 year. The necessary changes must be fully implemented within 18 months of today.

7. In time of declared need the Divine Will of the Emperor may suspend this directive to any sector of the workforce it deems essential to the effective running of the country for the duration of that emergency.

8. **redacted**