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

39 CHAPTER XXII. attain the same standard, got much better pay than they could find in India. Increasing economic pressure, which, at the present time, is accentuated in Burma as elsewhere, is making itself felt, and the Burman is anxious to compete in fields hitherto left to the Indian. This is, in part, the explanation of the tragic events in Rangoon in May 1930. On 6th May the Telugu dock labourers struck for an increased wage. Six years previously on the occurrence of a strike, the employers had resorted to Burmese labour, which made no effort to retain the employment when the strike came to an end. This time after the strike had been in progress for some days, the employers offered an increase of the daily rate, which was accepted by the men on strike. When the Indian dock labourers returned to work, a collision occurred between them and the Burmang brought in to fill their places. For some days there was grave rioting, in which, according to the estimate of the committee subsequently appointed by Government, about 120 persons were killed. The great majority of these were Indians, and the Indian labourers were in a state of panic, numbers returning to India at the first opportunity. It soon became apparent that there was a demand, strong- ly supported by public opinion, for the employment of Burmans on the docks. Settlement of the Dispute. As a result of these events, and although the original parties to the dispute had reached a common basis, Government was forced to intervene, and a settlement was reached with the stevedore firms and the shipping companies by which Burmese and Telugu labour was to be employed on a 50—50 basis. This settlement followed conversations between the Governor and a number of Burmese and Indian represen- tatives. The details were worked out by a Conciliation Board appointed under the Trade Disputes Act ; but the resolution appointing them stated that a settlement “ had in principle already been arrived at” and indicated that this settlement involved the allocation of a proportion of ships to labourers of each race. The instructions to the Board were that they were ““ to promote a settlement on the above lines and to work out the details of the settlement.” We confess, in passing, to some doubt if the appointment of a Board of Conciliation in a manner which does not leave entirely to their judgment the line most likely to lead to a settle- ment is in accord with the spirit of the Trade Disputes Act ; but at the time it would have been difficult, and probably perilous, to pursue any other line. Since then the principles of the settlement have been car- ried out. There is no question that Burmese labour generally has not attained the efficiency of Indian labour in the loading and unloading of ships ; but competence in such work cannot be gained immediately. and those whom we examined were guarded in their estimate of what the future held. Apart from the question of efficiency, there would seem to be some uncertainty as to whether, if the economic position became easier, there would be adequate Burmese labour available for work of this kind. Burmese opinion generally is naturally in favour of the em- ployment of Burmans not merely in this branch of work but wherever possible. So far as Indian labour is concerned, it is clear that before the

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