*
Ghana Ti.......
Védération. Laveræpribasie des Travailbara de: Induertitu
du Tewise et de PHandlement
YUNADAKHX;
JOHN E. NEWTON
VIZI - JAFSIDENT
K BUSCHMANN
intercale Textil- und Beleza, skPTVENE - CUTIILGIUM,
Internationell, Textil- och Rolidnudsarbetarrfederationon
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
My the visit to Hongkong:
120 BAKER STREET, LONDÒN, WJ
UJ
GENERAL SECRytamy: J., GREENHAIGH to whom all onnurádom should be aditivaced
بالسر
TEI KOPLANNER,
WELACK 1745
ZWI MANIA ADEMTES:
WORKINTEX, London, WI
3
is
During February and March 1966, I vialtod India, Japan, Hongkong and Pakipten in that order) and upon my arrival in Japan, I wsa net at the Airport by our Hongkong representative, who informed as that there was a strike at the East Agia Textiles Ltd. The initial reason for the strike was an attempt by mong workers to form a branch of the Union, but this resson was changed as soon as the full implications were replised, to one of 'trouble-rwking', The strike lasted from February lith to.
February 24th, when the following settlement' me agreoli-
1. All the workers to be re-instated.
2. After one day, the covas dismissed workare would 'voluntarily'
resign and receive 5 months rages as beverance pay.
3. All the other strikeru would receive FL £ 2 (2/6) for each day
of the strike.
Arriving in Eprgkong, I wod immediately impressed with the general air of prosperity in the colohy, and there is so mucha that one could feel proud of. It is however, with great ragret that I folsd appalling conditions during visits to certain establishments, and I was informed of many other unsavoury features of Hongkong's working life, by the many people with whow I came into contact.
I visited the Labour Department and was introduced to Mr. Wakefield, who was then the Commissioner of Labor. I told him that I had been informed that many textile workers were actusily working on 359 days each year, to which he replied that if they wished to work, he aur no reason why they should not do so. This was the reply of 2 I then questionned responsible person in authority in a colony under British rule. him about the hours of work of woken and young persone, and I was then informed that new legislation was being prepared, which would remedy the situation. Women and young persons in the garment (and other) industry actually work a 10 hours day, six auye a week, with a permitted overtime of 100 hours per year.
It should be remembered that Hongkong is by no means an 'under-developed | country, but is in fact, a highly industrialised colony, with many establishmentshaving the most modern machinery. Some mille are changing from labour-intensive to capital- intensive systems of production, but no matter how high the productivity of any raill might be, I did not find any evidence of workers receiving & share of such benefits. On the other hand, it is only fair that I should add that there is no evidence of the abject poverty that exists for inatence, in Pakistan, but it would be very `aurprising to do so when such long hours are worked, as compared with Pakiutan, where a 48 hours weok applies generally throughout industry.
One unfortunate feature of Hongkong, is that to be a member of a trade union means being identified with either the right or left wing politically
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