TNAG-0125-FCO40-161-Labour-force-working-conditions-1969 — Page 84

6

Supplementary Note

While Convention 89 (Convention 41 of 1934 in amended form) provided a comprehensive structure of principles governing the prohibition of night work for women, some of the essential points were used to make up a component section of another Convention. The latter was specially conceived to be applied to areas other than the territory proper of a signatory country.

Under the blanket name of "Convention concerning the Application of International Labour Standards to Non-Metropolitan Territories" as adopted in 1947 and identified as Convention 83, it is a conglomerate of 13 sub-conventions of which Night Work (Women) Convention is one.*

However, United Kingdom has remained the solitary country to have ratified this composite Convention.

that:

It is interesting to note that Convention 83 stipulates

"It (this convention) shall come into force twelve months after the date on which the ratifications of two members have been registered with the Director-General." (Article 7, clause 2)

Thus, after 20 years this instrument which was intended to acquire the status of an international convention, has virtually become an unilateral declaration of policy on the part of one country and can take effect only in the bounds of its influence and control.

Even so, the existence of this policy declaration raises practical problems for any non-metropolitan territory, such as Hongkong, which may, in its own economic interest, wish to depart from the guidelines laid down in the instrument giving evidence to this policy.

*Other component sub-conventions are Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1937, Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1936, Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention, 1921, Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946, Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921, Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919, Maternity Protection Convention, 1919, Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935, Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925, Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925, Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 and Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921.

"