CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952 — Page 81

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This circular letter, however, was not issued to the great majority of Chinese employers who were reluctant to accept the idea of a rehabilitation allowance, The general result of this action, however, was to establish much greater uniformity in wage rates and generally resulted in setting standards which, if not generous, afforded an income to the lowest paid workers sufficient for adequate maintenance,

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Today, however, there are many distinct and separate wage standards operating in Hong Kong. The European firms and most of the utility services pay wages based on an eight hour day and a six day week. Although actual wages may be paid on a basis of time or pieco work all payments are made in cash.

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In the larger Chinese-owned establishments wage rates are, in the main, based on piece rates but remuneration frequently includes food or lodgings or both. Most of these firms appear to observe a seven day week although there is said to be a steady movement towards a six day week, particularly in so far as the commercial firms and distributive trades are concerned.

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As a rule the smaller Chinese firms appear to pay wages which, are determined by the free play of the law of supply and demand, but there is no doubt that some of the trade unions have been able to secure some degree of stability. A 9 or 10 hour day is usual and food is often provided. When lodgings are said to be available to the workers this usually means just a space in the workplace in which the worker is permitted to sleep.

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In the numerous industries where only a few workers are employed and amongst the outworker contractors, wage rates are very low and hours of work long. Wages are undoubtedly depressed because of the competition of refugees for employment without which they would be in danger of near starvation. Industrial outworker carried out usually in squatters huts or tenements upon materials supplied by an employer is a decentralised form of production and there is a dearth of comprehensive and accurate information on the matter. Employers use this system to bower costs and the work is carried out in so many small units that effective control is practically impossible at the present time.

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Some of the newer industries which have migrated from Shanghai employ a substantial number of Shanghailanders In one large factory of this type the wages paid were one dollar and thirty cents a day plus three meals and dormitory accommodation,

There are several such firms and they contend that the value of these wages is in excess of three dollars a day, which is the rate they pay to local workers. On the other hand imported labour from Shanghai in the modern textile mills earn as much as seven and eight dollars a day out of which $1.50 is deducted for food and lodgings.

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The Shanghailanders, who are said to be more energetic workers than the average Cantonese, have the added advantage of greater security of tenure in that when business contracts it is the local labour which is first dispensed with.

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In other industries various methods of remuneration have come into being. In some the workers have a small wage plus per- quisites such as the proceeds of the scle of certain commodities or the free disposal of packing cases, packing materials, empties etc.

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