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

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VIII. - Mines

Collection:: Economics Books

110 CHAPTER VIII. great enterprise impressed us as more autocratic than anything we saw elsewhere, and we doubt if anything of the kind would be possible to-day in industry in any Indian province. We readily admit that the auto- cracy is, in a large measure, benevolent, and that the workers’ physical needs receive a large amount of care. Wages by Indian standards are high and hours generally satisfactory, welfare activities of various kinds are carried on with vigour and success, the standard of living is com- paratively high and, if a much stricter discipline is demanded than is usual in Indian industry, the increased efficiency of the workers is reflected in their material betterment. The workers made no representation to us, but we note that a petition presented to the Governor of Burma on their behalf, of which copies were given to us by the Corporation, stated that they “have no grievances to recite, no cause to represent ”. Although we find it difficult to accept this as a complete statement of the position, we must regard the fact that the Corporation, without any recruiting activity, can secure a large labour force in a most isolated spot, as clear evidence of the attractions it offers. But there is another aspect of the position. We were informed by the General Manager that the management had built up a sort of patriarchal system and that they were convinced that it is far more to the interests of the workers and the industry generally than a system where there are trade unions and political organisations. He also said that, during his service with the Corporation, there had never been any collective representation made by the workers on matters connected with their employment. Occasionally a man would approach him with a petition written by a petition-writer saying he had been un- justly dismissed and praying that he might be reinstated, but, when the matter was investigated, it was always found that the man had no cause of complaint and that he had been justly dismissed. In this settlement, to which access is at times not easy without the assistance of the manage- ment and in which residence without their consent is difficult, the control of the employers over the work and life of the workers is comprehensive. We recognise that the circumstances are altogether exceptional and that with an extraordinary mixture of races, each housed in separate camps, effective combination would not be easy to establish, even if the employers favoured its creation. But we consider that there should be some re- cognition of the workers’ collective rights, and some means by which when necessary, they can effectively present their case. We recommend the appointment of a labour officer, who, amongst his other duties, should direct his attention to the formation of suitable works committees. Official Regulations. Two questions in connection with the regulation of labour con- ditions in this enterprise call for comment. In the first place, lead poison- ing is a factor which has to be considered in connection with the health of the settlement. We recommend that government should frame re- gulations, after consultation with the Corporation and after examining the rules in force in other countries. We de not intend to imply that the Corporation has taken no action in the matter. We understand that no person is employed until he has been examined and passed as fit for work

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Monograph

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation