2.
60
Medical attendance is often paid for as a
matter of grace; this is not extended to wives and children.
One or two firms have a compulsory provident fund but prov-
ision in the shape of pensions is the exception. Applicat-
ions for leave are considered on the merits of the case and
are usually granted with full pay for such Chinese occasions
as Ching Ming. This also applies to sick leave.
Contributions towards hospital fees are a matter of grace.
One firm has the following arrangement with
regard to medical service: Doctors' fees and medicines have
to be paid entirely by the employees except that when a man
is away for more than a day or two he has to obtain a
certificate from the Company's doctors, for which the
Company pays. The Company pays for the one consultation
only and if the man wishes to continue treatment with the
Company's doctors he does so at his own expense.
This arrangement guards the Company against malingering,
and also against a man returning to work too soon after an
infectious illness.
Special allowances for typing, book-keeping,
shorthand or interpreting are not given.
Quarters, or allowances in lieu, are not
given, but sometimes office coolies are allowed to sleep
on the firm's premises.
One firm was found to have adopted a system
of grading employees, and as it appeared likely that the
details would be of special use to the Government for
purposes of comparison, permission was obtained to supply
the particulars, which form Appendix B.
I have, &c.,
(Sd.) M. F. Key,
Secretary.
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