§ 1 and 2. Mr. RILEYasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether His Majesty's Government are in favour of an international convention to establish by law annual holidays, with pay for wage-workers;
(2) how many Governments have replied in the affirmative and negative, respectively, to the questionnaire sent out by the International Labour Office in 1935 1693 on the subject of an international convention for the establishment of annual holidays, with pay, for wage-workers; and what was the reply of His Majesty's Government to the questionnaire?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)As the reply is necessarily rather long, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RILEYIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to say whether the Government are in favour of the convention?
§ Mr. BROWNThe hon. Member has asked for a lot of information and I have given him two pages. The Government are in favour of a recommendation to that effect.
§ Mr. MANDERAre we to have a Popular Front Government before we get that?
§ Following is the reply:
§ The replies of the Governments to the International Labour Office questionnaire showed that 35 were in favour of a convention, five, including His Majesty's Government, were in favour of a recommendation, and two were opposed to any form of international regulations dealing with holidays with pay. The reply of His Majesty's Government was as follows:
§ "His Majesty's Government are of opinion that holidays with pay should be provided wherever circumstances permit. They feel, however, that apart from other difficulties attendant upon an attempt to deal with this matter by means of international regulations the consideration which has so far been given to the problem has not taken into account the great problem presented by the large proportion of workpeople who during the year work for different employers or who are not continuously employed. It does not appear, therefore, that it would be possible to adopt international regulations in the form of a draft convention. His Majesty's Government, however, would be prepared to support the adoption of a recommendation which would have the object of encouraging all practicable steps to be taken to extend the provision of holidays with pay and of stimulating further consideration of this subject."
§ The following table shows the Governments which replied to the questionnaire and their attitude as indicated in their reply to the adoption of a convention: 1694
| GOVERNMENTS REPLYING TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. | ||
| In favour of the adoption of a Convention. | In favour of the adoption of a Recommendation. | Opposed to any International Regulations. |
| Argentine. | Bulgaria. | Japan. |
| Austria. | Great Britain. | The Netherlands. |
| Australia. | Switzerland. | |
| Belgium. | Yugoslavia. | |
| Brazil. | ||
| Canada (Ontario). | The Government of India prefer a recommendation, but indicate that there will be fewer objections to the adoption of a convention laying down the principle of holidays with pay accompanied by a re-commendation giving the details of application. | |
| Chile. | ||
| China. | ||
| Cuba. | ||
| Czechoslovakia. | ||
| Denmark. | ||
| Estonia. | ||
| Finland. | ||
| France. | ||
| Hungary. | ||
| Iraq. | ||
| Irish Free State. | ||
| Italy. | ||
| Lithuania. | ||
| Luxemburg. | ||
| Norway. | ||
| Poland. | ||
| Portugal. | ||
| Rumania. | ||
| Spain. | ||
| Sweden. | ||
| Union of South Africa. | ||
| United States of America. |
§ Note.—The Government of Alberta has replied but states no opinion on the question.