living allowance based on the cost of certain essential items of food and fuel paid to the majority of workers in European employment, varied between $96 and $101 per month as compared with the post-war average of $84 per month. From April onwards the cost of foodstuffs, which form the principal item in the workers' budget, fell steadily. By the middle of the summer the rehabilitation allowance had returned to $84 at which figure it remained till the end of the year, except for a temporary fall to $81 in November. Due to the high population of the Colony the shortage of housing added to the cost of living for nearly all classes of the community.
Wages
The special allowance of $30 a month (or $1 a day for daily paid workmen) resulting from the Dairy Farm Co. arbitration award was paid by the nine large undertakings concerned as from 1st January 1950. As has been stated, the Government was unable to grant a similar allowance to its workmen. Wages for Government employees, and for the employees of firms which did not adopt the Dairy Farm award, remained much as in the previous year.
Average daily earnings, including rehabilitation allowance, in the majority of European firms and in the few Chinese firms which pay that allowance, were as follows:-
Skilled tradesmen & skilled workmen
Semi-skilled workmen
Unskilled workmen
$5.80-8.20 $5.00 6.50 $3.50-5.00
In the nine firms paying the extra allowance the average daily earnings were $1 a day higher for each category.
Chinese firms generally do not pay rehabilitation allowance, but a consolidated wage. In a great many Chinese industrial establish- ments, although a nucleus of permanent employees may be on a monthly basis, a large number of men and most of the women are on either daily rates or piece rates, which vary considerably from industry to industry. Average daily earnings for nine hours' work range for men from $2.00 to $12.00, and for women from $1.00 to $7.00.
Working Hours
In the European concerns and in an increasing number of Chinese concerns, the 48-hour week is standard. The usual rest day is Sunday, though other days are allotted where work must be continuous.
The majority of Chinese-owned concerns work a 7-day week, with a longer working day, 9 hours being the most common, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with an hour break at midday). Overtime is common, in some cases almost regular; this is usually worked from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.-occasionally later for men-at the same piece rates, but at increased rates for daily-paid and in a few cases for monthly-paid workers. Some industries work more than 9 hours, e.g. the textile industry has usually a 10 to 12-hour day, though the majority of the spinning mills close one day a week.
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