Industry
Wages rates (in dollars)
80
Semi-skilled
Unskilled
Men
Women
Men
Women
Weaving (hand operation)
4
-
7
1.5
2.80
0.75
2.25
-
- 3.80
1.5
(power
11
>
4 7
2
2.80
1.5
3.80
-
3.80
3
Cotton spinning
3.30
3.30
1.80
1.90
6.20
5.70
-
3.30
- 3.30
Making up garments
Rubber shoe manufacture
Building construction
Motor repairs (8-hr. day)
Electric hand torches
Hardware
no details available,
range of earnings is 1.25 7.20
-
4.50
2.50
2.30 1.50
-
5.50
€7.00
3.50
2.50
6.50
-
10
3.50
7.
2.20
2
4.50
3.50
3.30 6.
range of earnings 1.20 - 3.40
range of earnings 1 3.15
All the above wages are averaged for a 9-hour day and
include wages in kind where supplied (i.e. food and
accommodation).
Most wages show a 6
-
8 fold increase over pre-war
wages; this should be compared with the general retail
price index which at September 1949 stood at 586 (1939 = 100).
3. Hours of work.
In concerns managed by Europeans the 48-hour week is
standard. Most textile factories are however Chinese owned,
and hours are normally longer. The Commissioner of Labour
states that the Chinese prefer to work longer hours at a
slower tempo than to work in a more concentrated way for
a shorter period. Most of the employees in the Hong Kong
textile industry are employed at piece rates and this
naturally encourages longer hours, particularly where the
jobs are light. 12 hours a day is common in weaving, and
11 hours a day in spinning.
4.
Protection of Labour, etc.
The Commissioner of Labour supervises the implementation
3.
/of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.