CHAP. 12.—MINIMUM WAGE IN AGRICULTURE 101

i ted into large
i ; lation farms would have to be conver ) lar
als El with better machinery and better organization
where Bn wages would be justified and made possible by greate
output,

URUGUAY

IN THE year 1923 Uruguay established a minimum wage for agriculture.*
 The method, however, is essentially different from that
of the great majority of other countries providing minimum wages,
no hoards being instituted, the law itself fixing the minimum wage.
The law provides that workers between 18 and 55 years of age employed
 on big agricultural enterprises or on cattle ranches (assessed
at 20,000 pesos” or more) shall receive a minimum wage of 18 pesos
a month or 72 centesimos a day. (Art. 1.) On very large estates (assessed
 at more than 60,000 pesos) the minimum wage is raised to 20
besos a month or 80 centesimos a day. (Art.2.) Exemptions are provided
 for in the case of workers with physical defects or who. for
similar reasons, can not be expected to earn the minimum wage. (Art.
8.) The exemptions shall be fixed by regional councils with the cooperation
 of the health officers. The workers have the right to choose
between the obligation of the employer to provide them with healthful
 accommodation and sufficient food or 12 pesos a month (50 centesimos
 a day. (Art. 5).
Violations of the provisions of the act are punishable by a fine of
10 pesos per day for every worker concerned; in case of repeated
violations a fine of 25 pesos per day for each worker is imposed.
(Art. 6.)
Application of the Act

ON APRIL 8, 1924, regulations were issued for the practical application
 of the act.’® Special work books are issued to facilitate
supervision of the observance of the act. Workers are entitled to
bring suit before a justice of the peace and, concurrently, the inspectors
 of labor may intervene.

Principle of Wage Fixation

SINCE the legislature itself fixed the minimum wage no instructions
 as to principles to be applied were needed.
To compare the principle of a wage ratio fixed by statute with the
principles applied in other countries the psychological and economic
facts must necessarily be relied on, for precise data as to the motives
which brought about the law are not available. The “ fair-wage”
principle scarcely enters into consideration, as agriculture as a whole
Is sui generis; its remuneration can not well be fixed on the basis of
the remuneration prevalent in any other industry. While the principle,
 “ wages the trade can bear,” might enter into account to a cer-8

 International Labor Office. Legislative series 1923—Uruguay 1: Act respecting a
minimum wage for agricultural workers, dated Feb. 15, 1923. Geneva.
17 At par, peso=$1.0342; centesimo=1.0342 cents.
8 International Labor Office. Legislative series, 1924—TUruguay 1: Decree ing
regulations under the act of Feb. 15, 1923, respecting a minimum wage for agricultura
workers, dated Apr. 8. 1924. Geneva.