CO129-629-11 Manufacture of shirts 1-1-1950 - 30-11-1950 — Page 45

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takment Comparnation Titakuais Cupernatra bill being lovedored

present

by atto haben. Adresy breed

und this hoped to

верил introdurre it into the Legialetins Council befor веро

allo

do your.

The

diffrenchies of such segotiation an elevacky

workers, who are seldom willing to report offences

or to give evidence. It might be noted that on one

a trade occasion an attempt was made by the Union Committee to

include in an agreement a clause stipulating reduction

in hours but this was completely defeated by the

members themselves.

Trades Union organisation.

There are in

Hong Kong 259 trades unions and associations, comprising

69 Employers' Associations, 186 Labour Unions and

four mixed Unions. Of these four Workers' Unions with

a membership of 3,808 and two Employers' Associations

with a membership of 623 are specifically concerned with the textile industry (cotton and silk) and three more

organisations (one for woollen textiles) have applied

for registration. The Labour Unions have complete

freedom to negotiate their conditions of work with

their employers. Of these Unions one of the most

active in pursuance of improvement is the Hong Kong

and Kowloon Female Knitters Association, membership

bee

This

of which has considerably increased in scope and is

now open to weavers and also to men workers.

association has small medical and welfare benefits,

a

canteens and/day nursery; it does its best to promote

education for members and children of members. In

conjunction with other Unions it is actively considering

the extension of canteens and day nurseries and the

setting up of hostels.

incitared when Hastal koos the peli Hong Kong-potey is and always has been to

wine membership represents

Medya imall papertice of the washers in th

industry, and where

a

multiplicity of small emplayers is involved.

promote the use of voluntary negotiations and agreements

as a means of settling conditions of employment Such

on may however be a

difficult matter

Especially when improved rates of pay are sought by

the less skilled workers, since a large pool of labour

is/