9) oe 
Be: 78 5.71. 
prtitot Hr West Achat sie 
0 
107 
1925, providing for a public mediator being appointed (for three years 
at a time). When conflicts of this kind arise, causing a stoppage of 
work, or if there is a reason to fear that a stoppage may occur, the 
public mediator shall, when negotiations for a private arrangement 
have been broken off, and if the dispute, on account of its extent or 
character, may be considered dangerous to the community, call before 
him the representatives of both workers and employers, on whom it 
is incumbent to obey the summons, and try to bring about a peaceful 
settlement by inducing the parties to come to an agreement by mutual 
abatement of differences. 
PROTECTION OF WORKERS 
As factory work of any description is still in its infancy in Iceland, 
legislation providing for the protection of workers has, up to the pre- 
sent day, moved very slowly indeed, except as regards the fishing 
trade, where the need for legislation on this head first made itself felt. 
The maritime law of 1914 contains special provisions aiming at ensur- 
ing the payment of wages (hire) to seamen. Under the same act the 
expenses of medical treating or lying in hospital etc. of any of the 
crew is payable by the shipowner. A law of 1903 established the in- 
spection of the condition and seaworthiness of ships. Various amend- 
ments and supplements to this act were passed in 1922 and 1929, pro- 
viding, among other things, for the appointment of a special inspector 
who is to see to it that all Icelandic vessels are inspected and sur- 
veyed. The maximum working dav on Icelandic steam trawlers was in 
1921 limited to 18 hours (meal-times included). This again was shor- 
tened to 16 hours in 1928. 
In 1929 -an act was passed respecting the status of artisan appren- 
tices, fixing their hours of labour per day, etc. 
In various statutes from past times there may be found regulations 
enforcing Sabbatarianism more or less strictly. And under an act of 
1926 all indoor and outdoor work, causing noise, as well as keeping 
shops open on sacred days of the established church are, with a few 
exceptions, forbidden. But according to a law of 1917 municipal coun- 
cils may decide as to the closing hours of shoos in their respective 
municipalities. 
Just after the beginning of the present century (law of 1902), the 
cash-payment of wages was made compulsory, and according to law 
of 1929 wages are now paid every Saturday. Under the same act it is 
made easier for workers to sue employers for wages due.