ENG-1958 — Page 65

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

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Benefits) Bill. Work on this measure was going ahead as a matter of urgency at the end of the year, and it will act as a stop-gap until such time as a much more comprehensive Employment Bill can be introduced.

During the year progress was also made with the following legislation: Clean Air Bill; Boilers and Pressure Receivers Bill; the Employment Bill; Mining (Amendment) Bill; Trade Union Registration Bill; Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill.

SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE

Factory Registration and Inspection. During the year 580 applications for registration were received and 499 registration certificates were issued; 6 were refused, the premises being closed down; and 82 applications for registration were withdrawn. 211 factories found operating in unsuitable buildings were closed down, and 202 registration certificates were surrendered for cancellation, the premises for which they were issued having ceased to be used as factories. At the end of 1958 there were 2,705 places of employ- ment 'registered under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, and 773 in course of registration. These figures do not include 1,428 recorded establishments. These are small premises not registrable under the Ordinance but kept under observation by the inspectorate because from 15 to 19 workers are employed, or for industrial health and safety reasons, or because of the employment of women and young persons. The great increase in the number of recorded establishments is due to the expansion of the inspectorate and the greater coverage made during wage and employment surveys during the year. The total number of industrial undertakings registered, in the process of registration, or recorded was 4,906 at the end of the year.

Visits made by the labour inspectorate during the year totalled 24,622. Of these, 20,256 were routine inspections for the enforce- ment of safety, health and welfare provisions, while 792 were concerned with industrial or occupational accidents and workmen's compensation; 940 were night visits to industrial premises in connexion with the employment of women and young persons during prohibited hours; 483 were wage inquiries; 929 were connected with the employment of young persons; and 1,222 were