Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

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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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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter IV. - Hours in factories

Collection:: Economics Books

CHAPTER IV. Opinions. Suggestions were made to us by some witnesses that the lim- itation of 60 hours was not in the best interests of India and one or two employers advocated a longer week. We are glad to say that these employers were not representative and we are satisfied that there is no general demand and no justification for any relaxation in this direction. Although twenty years ago strenuous opposition was offered bo the principle, which was then novel, of limiting hours for men, it Was not contested in the evidence before us, and we are satisfied that such limitations are desirable under present conditions. The ques- tion, as it presents itself to us, is whether the limit should be reduced or not, and on this we received a large number of opinions. The labour associations and those representatives of labour who appeared before us are generally in favour of an 8 hour day. While employers gene- rally are not in favour of making any reduction, and some important associations are strongly opposed to any change, there are some employers who are ready-to consider sympathetically a shorter statutory week. With the notable exception of the Bengal Government, who advocate a 55 hour week and a 10 hour day, the provincial Governments have refrained from expressing definite views. We think that public opinion generally would welcome a reduction if this can be secured without inflicting injury on Indian industry and on the economic position of the operatives. Needs of the Operative. The advantages of a shorter week from the point of view of the human needs of the worker do not require to be stressed. When to a 10 hour day one hour of statutory intervals is added (and no reduction in this can be contemplated in so long a day), it means that the operative has ordinarily to remain in the factory precincts for not less than 11 hours. This takes no account of the time spent in going to and returning from work. The remaining hours are generally sufficient for cooking and eating meals, for sleep and for the necessary duties of the home, but, except when the weekly holiday brings its respite, hours of leisure away from the factory are virtually unknown. A reasonable amount of spare time away from the factory is indispensable for the building up of citizen- ship, for the development of life, as opposed to mere existence, and for the maintenance of physical efficiency. Itis worth remembering, moreover, that most of those who are at Present compelled to remain in or near the factory for 11 hours a day were brought up in the freedom of the open fields. Effects of Reduction. It is essential, however, before reaching a conclusion, to consider the possible effects of a reduction of hours on industry. We believe that, if such a reduction were to result in any appreciable contraction of indus- try, a real disservice would be done not merely to the community as a whole but to the factory operatives themselves. It is also necessary bo bear in mind the relationship between hours of work and wages, for the standard of living of the factory worker is such as to make anv reduction

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