TNAG-0088-FCO40-124-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 77

Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries

du Textile et de l'Habillement

PRESIDENT:

„HN E. NEWTON

VICE-PRESIDENT:

Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeiter-Vereinigung

Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND

GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION

120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1

GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH to whom all communications should be addressed

K. BUSCHMANN

-

2.

TELEPHONE: WELBECK 1745

TELEGRAM ADDRESS:

WORKINTEX, London, W.1

The next sentence of the third paragraph reads 'The basis of such an approach would be that such orders should, in the first instance, be made in respect of industries already working an 8-hour day, thus bringing legislation into line with current practice'. I can welcome this, but I think that you will agree that it does absolutely nothing to reduce the hours of work for women and young persons. The next sentence staggers me, and makes me doubt your sincerity on the whole issue. You state 'Thereafter, the extent to which an 8-hour day is worked in other industries should be examined and, where it is the common but not the universal practice to work an 8-hour day, orders should be made to bring all industrial undertakings in those industries in line with common practice'.

The fact is that it is the common practice for all workers in the garment industry to work at least a 10-hour day, including women and young persons. Thus, as I can only take your letter to mean what it says, there will NOT be any amending legislation for the workers in the garment industry. And you ask me to keep this confidential! I am however, at the risk of being called naive, unwilling to believe the literal meaning of your letter, but I shall, of course, require re-assurance on this point.

I feel that it is only fair that I should add that because I could not reconcile what you said to us on February 16th with your reply to Ernest Thornton on April 4th, that I have written to the Prime Minister about my efforts to obtain Asiatic standards for the workers in Hong Kong.

Reverting to your request for me to respect your confidence, I can only repeat that I am to address the textile workers on April 27th, and should I not receive the required reassurances, a full and factual statement will be made to the delegates, the press, the International Labour Office and all our affiliates throughout the Free World.

Yours sincerely

Greens

General Secretary.