NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATIONS. This institution is the employers' cen tral organization in Great Britain for dealing with general labour questions on behalf of employers as a whole. Its constitution covers all questions arising out of industrial relations, but it does not deal with commercial questions.
Prior to the convening of the National Industrial Conference of Employers and Employed in 1919 by the prime minister, there was no central machinery for joint consultation en the employers' side between the employers' federations in the indi vidual industries dealing with labour questions, and the confed eration was set up to meet the need The confederation's mem bership is confined to the central employers' federations dealing with labour questions in the various individual industries, and the federations within its membership cover industries employing over seven million workpeople.
In its national sphere, the confederation is officially recognized by the Government and by the various Government departments which deal with labour questions (e.g., Ministry of Labour, Home
Office, Ministry of Health, etc.). The subjects it deals with are varied, including factory law, unemployment and health insurance, workmen's compensation, hours and conditions of work and trade boards. The confederation also submits evidence for employers before royal commissions and Government committees. In its international sphere, the confederation is recognized by the Gov ernment as the industrial organization "most representative of employers" under Article 389 of the Treaty of Versailles. In that capacity it nominates the British employers' delegate to attend the annual International Labour Conferences held under the treaty, and its representative is a member of the governing body of the International Labour Office.