Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries
du Textile et de l'Habillement
Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeiter-Vereinigung
Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE and
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1
GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH to whom all communications should be addressed
TELEPHONE:
WELBECK 1745
TELEGRAM ADDRESS:
WORKINTEX, London, W.1
PRESIDENT :
JOHN E. NEWTON
VICE-PRESIDENT:
K. BUSCHMANN
16y 1966 visit to Hongkongi
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During February and March 1966, I visited India, Japan, Hongkong and Pakistan in that order, and upon my arrival in Japan, I was met at the Airport by our Hongkong representative, who informed me that there was a strike at the East Asia Textiles Ltd. The initial reason for the strike was an attempt by some workers to form a branch of the Union, but this reason was changed as soon as the full implications were realised, to one of 'trouble-making'. The strike lasted from February 11th to
February 24th, when the following 'settlement' was agreed:-
1. All the workers to be re-instated.
2. After one day, the seven dismissed workers would 'voluntarily'
resign and receive 3 months wages as severance pay.
3. All the other strikers would receive HK 2 (2/6) for each day
of the strike.
Arriving in Hongkong, I was immediately impressed with the general air of prosperity in the colony, and there is so much that one could feel proud of. It is however, with great regret that I found appalling conditions during visits to certain establishments, and I was informed of many other unsavoury features of Hongkong's working life, by the many people with whom I came into contact.
I visited the Labour Department and was introduced to Mr. Wakefield, who was then the Commissioner of Labour. I told him that I had been informed that many textile workers were actually working on 359 days each year, to which he replied that if they wished to work, he saw no reason why they should not do so. This was the reply of a responsible person in authority in a colony under British rule. I then questionned him about the hours of work of women and young persons, and I was then informed that new legislation was being prepared, which would remedy the situation. Women and young persons in the garment (and other) industry actually work a 10 hours day, six days a week, with a permitted overtime of 100 hours per year.
It should be remembered that Hongkong is by no means an 'under-developed' country, but is in fact, a highly industrialised colony, with many establishmentshaving the most modern machinery. Some mills are changing from labour-intensive to capital- intensive systems of production, but no matter how high the productivity of any mill might be, I did not find any evidence of workers receiving a share of such benefits. On the other hand, it is only fair that I should add that there is no evidence of the abject poverty that exists for instance, in Pakistan, but it would be very surprising to do so when such long hours are worked, as compared with Pakistan, where a 48 hours week applies generally throughout industry.
One unfortunate feature of Hongkong, is that to be a member of a trade union means being identified with either the right or left wing politically.