CO129-629-11 Manufacture of shirts 1-1-1950 - 30-11-1950 — Page 43

G.R.

42

mage agreement autored into aboutly

afeer to was was in faire generally

year

(f) support their own industrial association.

hocal merchants would then only buy from factories

appearing on the accredited list.

2. Wages. It is difficult to make general comparison between

wages in Hong Kong and wages in the textile industry in this

country. Differences of cost of living and in the general way

of life are very great and the question is complicated by the

custom in Hong Kong of providing free quarters and food and

because in many cases the concerns are family Enterprises.

Generally speaking however, workers in the Hong Kong textile

wild a few exceptious

industry/are

ot badly off by comparison with other workers

not

in the Colony where the general standard of wages is higher

than anywhere in the Far East. Wages have increased since

the war proportionately more than the cost of living and the

standard of living (except in respect of housing) is higher. It

is however recognised in Hong Kong that the wages position in the

textile industry is not altogether satisfactory. As a result of

Japanese competition, some manufacturers have been endeavouring

to reduce wages from the peak reached in the immediate

dont post-war boom period and these efforts have met with sharp

Sitigativen cantirmes resistance from the workers If offerts to persuade

Lent has imit

lapsed, and effects to

pursuado

to suver vallo a new

house do

pared massiking.

far

هد

fail,

manufacturers and workers to enter inte voluntary agreement

(to take it may be necessary for action under the Trade Boards

Ordinance, 1940. Under this Ordinance the Governor may fix

minimum rates of wages for any trade in which he is satisfied

(if he deans it advisable / that the minimum rates are unreasonably low. He may establish

a Trade Board consisting of employers' and workers'

to gather

representatives with an independent element,to conduct an

enquiry into the industry, if this is deemed advisable. There

is little doubt however that one of the principal difficulties

in the way of statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong is the

problem of inspection and the large number of cases where

wages are paid partly in kind, i.e.free lodgings and food.

3./