20
55
"There is much truth in the Chinese proverb that "a trade in hand is worth more than a million dollars in wealth". History has proved to us that empires have fallen and wealth may disappear through misfortunes or disasters, whereas a wage earner, trained in any particular trade, will forever be aimed with a sure weapon in his life long struggle for existence. The conditions after the Second World War have further provided us with a new concept that a working man nowadays can hardly exist individually unless he fits himself in 2 group, that is a labour organisation. It has been borne out by facts that a workers well being is interwoven with the weaving of his labour union. Unfortunately the labour movement in China has been grossly misguided by its labour leaders who are unable to disassociate them- selves from the current political movement. Very often the labour unions are utilised by certain ambitious Chinese politicians as tools for the furtherance of their political activities. There is absence of an unbiased competent labour legislature free from political in- fluence of any shade which will ensure the enforcement of a system of social security such as unemployment benefit, sickness insurance, old age pensions and the like. There is still another lamentable factor in the Chinese labour movement for the rectification of which no attempt has ever been made. This is that the Chinese female workers do not receive equal treatment with the males. My conviction is that men and women are born equal and there is no reason why women are not paid equally as the men for equal work. For about twenty years I have worked with one mind for the uplift of the social status of Chinese womanhood and I will continue to strive to bring about the realisation of my conviction. To day the time is overdue to bring about a scientific programme of labour reform. By a scientific programme I mean a scient- ific approach to labour problems based on knowledge and realities as against one based on political propaganda or dogmatic creeds or aspiratious of any ruling body. as leaders of the labour movement it rests on you this important task. "
132.
VI WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
A comprehension Workmen's Accident Compensation Ordinance is now nearing completion and this is later to be extended to cover industrial disease risks. In this draft Ordinance a worker is defined very widely indeed and the draft only excludes casual workers, out- workers and domestic servants. The actual income group to be covered has not yet been determined.
133.
as a result of this wide deinition all the workers employed by the numerous small Chinese undertakings will be covered by the Ordinance and in the event of serious accident or the death of a worker it is more than probable that many such employers will be unable to meet the cost from their own resources. They can of course insure against this risk but it is doubtful whether the majority will do so of their own volition.
134
The various workers organisation have shown considerable interest in the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance and there will be much dissatisfaction if some workers, who receive injuries "arising out of and in the course of their employment," do not get the benefits which they have been led to expect. In these circumstances it appears to be very desirable that either the Government insist upon compulsory insurance or a compulsory co-operative employers' liability fund be founded.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.