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 XXI. - Wages on planatations

Collection:: Economics Books

4 CHAPTER XXI, however, are exceptional and require special treatment. This is all the more necessary in view of the extent to which the free movement of labour to that province has been, and continues to be, adversely affected by objections to free recruitment made from the United Pro- vinces on one side to Madras on the other. The association of repre- sentatives of labour with the organisations of employers in the establish- ment of suitable machinery for dealing with questions of wages would create confidence as well as make it difficult for any employer to pay his workers less than the rates generally ruling in his district. These are the special considerations which have led me to believe that, in all the circumstances, the establishment of wage-fixing machinery in Assam is desirable in the interests of employers and em- ployed alike. The existence of an Association representing 90% of the acreage under tea should make complete organisation possible on the amployers’ side. The absence of any organisation which can represent the interests of the workers, on the other hand, is a serious difficulty which will require special consideration. Apart from variations in the nature of the soil and in the work and yields on different estates, there are other circumstances peculiar to Assam which necessitate careful investiga- tion. These include the part-time nature of the employment in most areas, the recognition of absenteeism to provide spare time for those who have rice lands or other subsidiary occupations to attend to and generally the advisability of allowing as great a measure of freedom as possible to the different classes of workers. The differences in the nature and cash value of concessions and allowances given to workers and the maintenance of registers to show actual working hours and earnings of individual workers will add to the difficulties of enforcement and admi- pistration. All these factors indicate that careful previous enquiries are necessary before it can be decided that the establishment of statutory wage-fixing machinery is practicable in the tea plantations of Assam. I am of the opinion that full advantage should be taken of the high degree of organisation and experience of the Indian Tea Association and of the Assam Branches and District Committees. They should be invited to consider the extent to which machinery of the type suggested is practicable and can be made effective. If possible, they should prepare a scheme under which representatives of the workers can be associated with the representatives of employers. Full representation of all in- terests concerned is desirable and, as in Ceylon, it may be found neces- sary to make statutory provision for effective enforcement and for the inclusion of an independent element by the appointment of suitable Government officials. The practice in Ceylon, where the system of separate District Boards is in force, points to the advisability of utilis- ing the experience of existing organisations in Assam in the shape of District Committees. Questions regarding the most suitable type of machinery and the most likely methods of enforcement and adminis- tration are matters which can safely be left to Government and the in- dustry for consideration.

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