ENG-1957 — Page 61

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

45

usual. A bonus of one month's wages is paid at Chinese New Year in many concerns.

Some firms provide free food and accommodation for their regular employees. Others provide canteens, from which food and other necessities are supplied at subsidized rates, thus giving their workers partial protection against rises in the cost of living. The Government, most European con- cerns, and some Chinese concerns run on Western lines pay a basic wage, together with a variable cost of living allow- ance to compensate for price fluctuations. The allowances paid are based on the Retail Price Index, compiled and published monthly by the Commerce and Industry Depart-

ment.

Working Hours. Some Chinese firms have a 7-day work- ing week, and this is sometimes coupled with a 9-hour day. These long hours are favoured by the workers concerned, since their earnings are correspondingly greater. Some of the more enlightened employers give a day off in every seven and although the holiday is not paid, a day's wage as bonus is given if there has been no absence during the week. Hours of work for women and young persons are regulated by law in conformity with International Labour conventions. The 48-hour week is standard in European undertakings and in Chinese concerns run on Western lines. In public utilities and some of the cotton spinning and weaving mills a system of three 8-hour shifts is used. The rest day is usually Sunday, except in concerns where con- tinuous production must be maintained and rest days are accordingly arranged in rotation.

Cost of Living. The cost of living showed little variation in the first ten months of the year, apart from changes caused by seasonal fluctuations in foodstuff prices. In November, however, the Retail Price Index dropped sharply to 115 from the figure of 123 for October, and in December it declined further to 112. The sudden drop of eight points in the Index in November was attributed to the fact that