. I
Péatvorima kusemwatóenade das Trovačkets As Endastzhag
Au Tanske et de l'Habitasunarent
Fatsomomiozvals Temß- wari Dukkežiovagartzárez-Varesmler tag
Isaura?mmunissant la Text- och Heckklasikan iam eonredetarmabonema
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1
Gummel BaMETART: J. GRETERIALOHI
was ch Andiamo semeldi ko adPSIJA
98
JOHN B. MWTON
YECU-1240377367) 1 K. BUSCHMANN
Our Efortu to get the Hours of Work for Woman and Young Porcoma in Mongkong reimod from 60 to 45 koera per veek.
WALLABOLKOV:
WELESK 1748
THE EXTRA AREWISS:
WORKINTAX, Loudza, W.1 Juno tk 1967.
Preamble:
In 1958, Mr. Kraeet Thornton, M.P., visited Hongkong, Japan and several Asian countries, on behalf of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the above International Federation, to arplore the possibilities of creating an Asian Regional Organisation of Textile Workern Unions. Upon his return, he drew the attention of the House of Commons to the fact that in Bongkong, women and young persona pera working 12-hour shifta, seven days a week, with only four days bolidays per year.
This led to the Colonial Office" seuding some-one to the colony, and as * result, now legislation was introdwood, limiting the hours of work of women and young persons to 10 per day and 60 per week, with a permitted overtime of 100 hours par YOLT.
When the new legislation was being irtroduced, Mr. Sedgwick, then the Commissioner of Isbour maidi
"The now regulations will not pring hours of work for women and
young persons in Hongkong oogletely into line with internationally cocepted standards and, as I have already suggested, positiva advances will have to be made in due course... !.......The regulations now before Honourable Membero nevertheless represent a considerable stap forward (even if it is only the first step) in Hongkong's labour legislation".
The new legislation came into foros on January 1st 1959, and since then nothing has been done to bring about further improvements, for the women and young persons in industrial employment in Bongkong, may still be required to work a 10- hours day, six days a week, plus overtime. Not only is it possible, but it is a fact that is not disputed, that the thousands of women and young persons in the garment industry are regularly czployed on these excessive hours.
Even with these hours, some employers disregard the regulations and are taken to court, but as they are fined a ridiculously small amount (the fines averaged £4-11-3d during the first 6 months of 1966) the employers have a complete and utter disrespect of the regulations, because they find it profitable to violate the law,
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