Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1850495947

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-233603

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: His Majesty's Stationery Off.

Year of publication:: 1931

Scope:: xviii, 580 S.; graph. Darst., Kt.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter X. - Railways - continued

Collection:: Economics Books

179 CHAPTER X. designed to show the progress made in Indianisation and in the recruitment of minority communities and give very little information as to wages and staff costs in different branches of the service. We find an absence of uniformity in nomenclature which prevents exact comparisons being made of the numbers of employees and of working costs in the different departments of the various railways. We therefore recommend that an effort should be made to standardise nomenclature and practice so as to obtain comparable returns on which to base analyses of numbers and costs ‘of staff. Figures should be readily available showing salaries and wages separate from provident fund contributions and gratuities and also giving particulars of con- tractor labour employed in different branches. Statistics of labour turnover and of absenteeism, showing whether these are due to sickness or otherwise, should also be carefully maintained and analysed in order that these matters may receive the necessary attention. Conclusion. Many of the recommendations and suggestions contained in this Report must, if adopted, ultimately result in increased working costs, unless economies are effected in other directions. On some rail- ways the cumulative effect will be more serious than on others more favourably placed as regards traffic and working facilities. Working expenses and staff costs have already materially increased and the recent falling off in traffic receipts will make this still more apparent. In India cheap transit has always been and must continue to be recognised as a necessity. From a study of the statements at our disposal we are satisfied that in various branches economies can be effected which will go a long way to meet the increased expenditure to be incurred in other directions. There is room for greater individual effort and, with continued attention to working conditions, there is no reason why improved organisation and increased efficiency should not permit of most of our recommendations being carried out in the near future. The fall in prices has already increased the purchasing power of wages and, with increased earning capacity, we believe that workers on Indian railways will realise and respond to the need for greater efficiency. There will be difficulties to overcome and occasions when patient consideration and negotiation will be necessary ; but, with goodwill and common effort, we believe that all concerned in the development of Indian railways will benefit from a general acceptance of the principles indicated in this Report.

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