41
244
There seems little doubt that both employers and workers prefer the leisurely and less efficient but often equally productive methods to which they have become accustomed, to any increase in hours of leisure which would result from a reduction of hours and would involve increased discipline and more concentrated effect. The average Chinese employer fully realises that as a rule there is no direct arithmetical relationship between output and the number of hours worked and appreciates that a similar or even greater out- put could be obtainedly reducing hours of work.
245.
There is, of course, another factor which tends to encourage long working hours, The Chinese worker has a very high regard for money and piece r .te working is fairly general. The Chinese cmployer also prefers this system of working as it simplifies costing appreciably. The result of this practice, however, is to encourage long hours of work and any legal restrict- ion would be strongly resisted by both workers and employers.
246.
There is also a good deal of "outworking" which is not only carried out by an individual for his family but helpers from outside the family group are often drawn from the all too numerous refugees. To these refugees a livelihood of some kind if of vital importance and for this reason not only will they accept very low wages but they will work willingly for very long hours.
247.
The "outwork" is carried on in all kinds of places and any effective form of control would not only be extremely diffic- ult but would necessitate a very substantial army of inspectors.
248
It is of interest to record, in this connection, that there was the strongest resentment on the part of both Chinese employers and workers to the long drawn out struggle of the Government of Hong Kong to abolish night work by women and there would be even greater resentment if any ill-conceived attempt were made too rapidly to conform to well-meant but theoretical limits of what are considered suitable hours of work by Western standards.
249.
In dealing with this admittedly difficult problem regard must be had to the undesirable effects which too sudden changes in the habits of life and work may have on the social conditions of the people.
250,
The whole question of a six-day-week will, at some future date, have to be considered but, in this connection, it must be realised that Sunday plays no part in the Chinese calendar. At the moment more than half the Chinese shops and factories appear to open on seven days each week although movement towards a six-day-week is said to be progressing slowly. Until this movement has progressed further it would seem to be inadvisable to impose any such restriction by law.
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