§ I. Belgium
§ Hours of labour in industry generally are fixed under the Act of 14th June, 1921, at eight a day and 48 a week. In order to enable an employer to deal with unusual pressure of orders, authorisations to work in excess of the normal limits may be granted for not more than two hours a day- during three months in any one year (or about 130 additional working hours a year).
§ No information is available with respect to the hours actually worked in these industries.
§ II. France.
§ The Act of 23rd April, 1919, relating to the eight-hour day and 48-hour week in industry generally have to be applied to the various industries by means of public administrative regulations. Those applying the law to the metal and engineering and shipbuilding industries fix the normal hours in these industries at eight a day and 4S a week. For exceptional pressure of work an overtime allowance of 100 hours per annum is granted. In addition the authorities may sanction a further extension up to a maximum of 40 hours a year, to make up time lost in local holidays, etc. The limit of the daily working hours in these cases is 10.
§ In metal construction works and shipbuilding works and Yards, an Order may be made by Inspector of Labour allow- 2093 ing hours lost through bad weather to be made up (after consultation with the organisations of employers and workers concerned). No Limit is stated as to number of hours.
§ In agricultural machinery manufacture time lost in the slack season may be made up within. a limit of 100 hours.
§ In other metal industries affected by bad weather or liable to slack seasons Ministerial Orders may be issued subject to conclusion of agreements between organisations of employers and workers concerned.
§ No information is available with regard to the hours actually worked in these industries.
§ III. Germany.
§ Working hours were fixed at eight per day by Order of 23rd November, 1918. A Decree of 21st December, 1923, permitted exceptional extension of the hours of labour by agreement between employers and workpeople up to 10 hours a day.
§ No information is available as to the hours actually waked at the present time.