HC Deb 09 April 1935 vol 300 cc968-9
34. Mr. LYONS

asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly wage, in terms of British currency, now paid to male hosiery and artificial silk workers in Japan; the amount of maintenance and other deductions there from; and the comparable wages paid in this country?

Mr. STANLEY

As the reply is somewhat long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. LYONS

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the very great difference between the standards of the workers, male and female, in Japan and their standards in this country, and to the relation which that must bear to the increasing unemployment in the hosiery trade in this country, and will he take that situation into account?

Following is the reply:

According to statistics issued by the Japanese Ministry of Commerce and Industry the average daily earnings of male hosiery workers in Japan at September, 1934, were 1.58 yen and those of male artificial silk yarn spinners were 1.38 yen (equivalent to about Is. 10d. and 1s.7½d respectively, at the present rate of exchange). Similar particulars are not available for other classes of artificial silk workers. These amounts are said to include food allowances, bonuses for quality and output, overtime and night work, but not seasonal payments, payments during unemployment or sickness, retiring or discharge allowances, clothing and lodging allowances, etc. I am not in possession of information as to the average weekly earnings. For Great Britain, the latest official inquiry into wages in these industries relates to one week in October, 1931, when the actual earnings of all classes of male workers, skilled and unskilled, in the establishments as to which information was obtained, averaged 60s. in the silk and artificial silk industry and. 58s. 4d. in the hosiery industry. These averages were affected by short-time working, and other forms of underemployment, at some of the factories covered by the returns. I am informed on behalf of the National Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers' Associations that the average earnings of male workers of average skill at the present time are not less than £4 per week of 48 hours.