TNAG-0648-FCO40-796-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1977 — Page 93

Industrial Relations Practices of British Subsidiaries

4.

There has been continuing interest in the United Kingdom over Black trade unions in South Africa since the publication in 1974 of the TISC report on "Wages and Conditions of African Workers Employed by British Firms in South Africa". Paragraph of the subsequent White Paper (Cmnd.5845) invited British companies with interests in South Africa to report inter alia on "the names of any African trade unions that are recognised by the company and, if any have applied for recognition, the results of such applica- tions."

5. Thirty-nine companies mentioned industrial relations or communications systems in their reports made between January 1975 and 28 February 1977 in response to the White Paper. Of these, 25 were using Liaison Committees, 8 Works Committees, and 6 had adopted other forms of committee. One company reported the intro- duction of a grievance procedure. One company has recognised a Black trade union and nine said they were prepared to examine the question of Black trade union recognition if approached.

Overseas Labour Adviser

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

15

April 1977

2