HC Deb 21 February 1935 vol 298 cc508-9
4. Mr. MANDER

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information with regard to the extent and effect of the introduction of the 40-hour week in factories in Italy; and what increase in employment there has been as a result?

Mr. STANLEY

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

Following is the reply:

The information in the possession of my Department with regard to the collective agreements, between employers' and workers' organisations in Italy, providing for the reduction of the normal working week in a large number of industries to a maximum of 40 hours, subject to certain exceptions, was summarised in the issues of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for November, 1934 (page 396), and January, 1935 (page 13). These agreements were generally to operate as from various dates in November or December, 1934. In the issue of "Industrial and Labour Information" for 21st January, 1935, published by the International Labour Office, it was stated that similar agreements had been arrived at in some other industries, and that the agreements so far concluded were believed to cover 99 per cent. of all industrial undertakings and workers. It was provided in a general agreement that, in all cases where working hours were reduced under these arrangements, the remuneration of the employed persons was to be reduced proportionately, and that a "National Family Allowances Compenastion Fund" to supplement the reduced earnings of workers with large families was to be established. It has been reported in the Italian Press that information supplied to the Italian Ministry of Corporations by the Provincial Councils of Corporative Economy indicates that the number of workpeople absorbed into employment, by 2nd February, as a result of the operation of these agreements, was 206,284, of whom 161,991 were employed in industrial undertakings, 19,338 in agriculture, and 24,955 in commerce, banking, insurance, etc.; but it is not clear whether these figures include vacancies created by the compulsory replacement of certain classes of female by male employés, or of juvenile by adult employés, which was usually one of the provisions of the agreements.