Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Bibliographic data

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 XXII. - Burma and India

Collection:: Economics Books

45 CHAPTER XXIII. work supplied in Burma supports a great number of Indians who would have difficulty in getting a bare sustenance in India and affords substan- bial relief to their families at home. If Burma has benefited greatly from Indian labour, India has also been substantially helped by the provision of an outlet for sections of her population that are hard pressed and by the surplus of their earnings, Immigration Policy. All the questions under consideration are bound up with and lead back to the question of the policy to be pursued in future in respect of Indian immigration to Burma. On this question we are unable to reach any definite conclusions, for two reasons. In the first place, the question of the immigration of industrial workers cannot be considered apart from that of agricultural workers and other classes of immigrants. In the second place, the question must depend on the constitutional rela- tions between India and Burma, and these appear likely to undergo a radi- cal change. We should add that, apart from these difficulties, the ab- sence from our deliberations of any Burman, and the deficiencies In the evidence, would have handicapped us in attempting to solve so delicate and difficult a question. We must limit ourselves to putting forward certain broad considerations which will require attention in this connection, We have noted the emergence of a desire that Burmans should take a larger share in the supply of industrial labour. This desire is baged partly on a natural apprehension regarding the effect on the standard of living of the continued employment of Indian unskilled labour. It is reinforced by the present economic conditions, which are compelling Burmans to find employment in fields which in better times they would not enter, and it has the backing of Burmese national sentiment. If Burma, is separated from India, control over immigration must ultimately rest with Burma herself. At the same time, it is by no means inconceivable that, in such circumstances, there may be a demand in India for some restriction on emigration. There is the possibi- lity, therefore, of a demand on both sides for the regulation of Indian emigration. So far as assisted emigration is concerned, we see no objection to suitable restrictions. There is a strong case for control over this kind of emigration with a view to ensuring that men are not assisted to emigrate without a guarantee of maintenance for a period of reasonable length or of repatriation. If such control led to a reduc- bion in assisted emigration ° there would be little reason for regret; for the existing amount of work for Indians in Burma could be discharged by a smaller labour force, with benefit to all concerned. But it would be unfortunate, from the point of view both of India and of Burma, if artificial obstacles were placed in the way of the unassisted emigration of the able-bodied or their dependents. The need of Indian labour in Burma, which has been great in the past, may be reduced, but is not likely to disappear in any future that we are considering. Reference has already been made to the benefit which India receives in return, and this benefit could be enhanced by suitable measures in Burma. We agree with the Burma sub-Committee of the Indian Round Table

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