Enclosure No. 1.
Extract from the South China Morning Post of 6.6.1927.
CANTON LABOUR.
Cumbersome Set of Regulations.
COMPULSORY STRIKES.
(From a Correspondent.)
Canton, June 2. The Canton Political Council has just passed and promulgated a set of regulations governing labour disputes. The regulations are as follows:
1. The aim of this set of regula- tions is to settle disputes between labour and capital and therefore it must be strictly observed by both parties concerned.
2. Labour and merchants should report all grievances or disputes to the Government authorities for arbitration and during the time arbitration is in progress no direct action should be attempted by either party, such as strikes by the labourers, and lockouts by the merchants.
3. All agreements concluded by the labourers and merchants in the presence of the Government arbitrators should be effectively executed within three days, after which time the Government may take action to force such execu- tion.
4. During strikes the merchants have the right to work themselves, but the number of merchants working in each shop or factory must not exceed five.
5. In case of strikes or other [disputes, the labourers must not carry things away or cause damage to the shops or fac- tories.
to
6. In time of strikes, the labour unions must not attempt blockade shops or factories.
Power of Arrest,
7. The labour unions must not make arrests
commit or
other
action detrimental to the liberty of others, but in time of strikes, the labour unions may ask the police to arrest those who attempt to break the general strikes and have these persons taken to the Labour Department.
8. The labourers who strike for increase of wages may demand from the merchants, at the termina- tion of the strike, pay during the strike, but the labour unions are not supposed to demand damages from or impose any fines upon the merchants.
9. The merchants must not dis- miss their employees, without proper reasons and in case their shops or factories discontinue] functioning a month's wages as compensation should be paid to the workmen. Compensation of two months' wages should be paid} for all instant dismissals. How- jever, if the workmen violate the regulations of the shops or fac- tories they may be dismissed at any time without any compensa-
tion.
un-
10. Ordinary workers or skilled labour may be dismissed on the second day of the Chinese! new year in accordance with the six special regulations previously promulgated by the Political Council. Otherwise shop fokis should not be dismissed unless they commit some wrong.
11. In case of disputes aroused between two labour unions or be- tween labour and merchants, neither side should attempt to bribe outsiders for aid. Such practice will be severely punish- ed by the Government if discover- ed.
12. Merchants must not make any attempt to split the unity and organization of labour unions.
13. Agreements concluded be- tween the merchants and labourers previcus to the issuance of these regulations are considered valid unless both parties agree to have
same cancelled.
Private Taxes.
14. The labour unions must not impose their own "taxes" on com- modities of any shops or factories, which will only increase the burden of the merchants, labour and the consumers. Such "taxa- tion" may be applicable if both sides mutually agree.
15. No "big" merchants should
be admitted into any labour unions. The "small" merchants may join the unions with the con- sent of the union's members, but in this case the merchants. con- cerned should have no right to vote or to be elected.
16. Owners of "small" work- shops who have not joined the labour unions may continue work even during the course of general strikes.
17. Owners of "small" work-
labour unions as they please. shops may or may not join the
18. Owners of "small" work- shops should also honour the terms reached at the termination of any strikes in their trades.
19. Work in the families in which no outsiders are employed should be free from intervention from the labour unions, and such should not be affected by these regulations.
20. In labour disputes of the following four trades, the deci- sion of the Government ar- bitrators should be strictly follow- ed and the Government may force their execution:
a. Factories for the manufac- ture of military supplies. b. Economic institutions. c. Communication services. d. Other essential services and
public institutions.
21. The offices of the Party and the Government schools, hospitals, and other Government establish- ments are not under these regula- tions...
22. Prior to the adoption and promulgation of a Labour Law these regulations are valid.
23. These regulations are valid as from the day of promulgation by the Government.
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