Enclosure No. 4.
Esbart from South China Morning Post, 26/3/27
CANTON LABOUR.
Question of Dismissing Employees.
GOVERNMENT PLAN.
Canton, Mar. 24. The Canton Government has just announced definite measures to settle the dispute over the dis- missal of merchants' employees on the 2nd day of the new year, which has been monopolizing the atten- tion of the Cantonese labourers and merchants ever since.
This afternoon the Political Council issued a circular notice to the labour unions and merchants' organizations, to the effect that the dispute should be settled under the following six terms:
1. It is definitely fixed that the employers should have at least one day in a year in which they can have the liberty of dismissing employees. This day is temporari- ly fixed as the second day of the first moon but employers have the liberty to fix a date which
may suit them better.
2. When an employee is dis- missed, he should be compensated with two months' wages; and all shops have to employ a member of the labour union, to which the dis- missed workman belongs, to take up the post thus vacated.
3. Whenever, a shop has to re- duce its staff on account of un- favourable business conditions, it should pay the employees thus dis- missed two months' wages. But when a shop has to discontinue business altogether, it may pay each of its employees a month's wages only.
4. Officers of the different la- bour unions, while in office, should not be dismissed by employers a the second day of the year or any other time in the year, except when such employees act con- trary to the regulations of their employers or are not qualified to carry out their duties. However the Union officers must not be ab- sent too frequently under the ex- cuse, of working for the labour unfons; and with the exception of public holidays, such officers must not devote more than 30 days in a year to the affairs of their unions which may cause their absence from their regular duties.
5. With the exception of those shops or factories which have made special agreements with their employees, to the effect that dis- missals must not be made on the 2nd day of the New Year, the above regulations should in all cases be applied.
6. Whenever agreements for employment are drawn up between employers and employees, it is necessary to have the labour union concerned and the Chamber of Commerce as witnesses.
It is understood that the labour- ers and merchants have not yet expressed their attitude toward the above regülations, but each body will hold a sparate conferen- ce to discuss whether the scheme is just to both sides.-F. A. C.
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