Section 149. Employees

Permanent  employees  of  the department of labor
  assigned  to  duties  wholly  in  relation  to   the   enforcement   and
  administration  of  this  chapter,  in  the  competitive  class  of  the
  classified civil service in office when this section takes effect  shall
  continue  in  office,  except that upon certification by the chairman to
  the director of the budget filed within sixty days from  the  time  this
  chapter  takes  effect  that  any  such employee is not required for the
  exercise of the functions, powers, duties  and  obligations  transferred
  and  assigned to the board pursuant to this chapter, such employee shall
  not be continued; provided, however, that whenever there are  more  than
  three  officers or employees in the same class and grade of position the
  provisions of section thirty-one of the civil service law  shall  apply,
  and  any  such  employee  or  employees not continued in office shall be
  placed on the preferred eligible list.
    The  chairman  of  the  board  may  appoint  officers  and  employees,
  including   such  investigators,  statisticians,  examiners,  and  other
  assistants, as may be necessary for the exercise of the powers  and  the
  performance of the duties of the chairman or the board.
    The  chairman  may transfer officers or employees from their positions
  to other positions under the board;  may  abolish  or  consolidate  such
  positions; and may suspend or remove from office any officer or employee
  of  the  board; subject, however, to the provisions of the civil service
  law and rules.