§ 74. Mr. HEPWORTHasked the Minister of Labour which countries have not ratified the cover ant adopted by the International Labour Conference, 1935, prohibiting the employment of female manual workers on underground work in mines; and whether any such work is permitted in any part of the British Empire?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)So far as I am aware, no country except Cuba has yet ratified the draft convention prohibiting the employment of women on underground work in mines of all kinds, but I would point out that the period allowed by the treaty of peace within which States must bring draft conventions before the competent authority for legislation or other action has not yet expired, The intention of His Majesty's Government to ratify this convention was notified to Parliament in a Command Paper (No. 5141) laid last March. With regard to the second part of the question, the employment of women underground in mines is prohibited in the United Kingdom. I am advised that in the large majority of the non-self-governing Colonial dependencies where mines exist, such exployment is prohibited by law, and that in the very few territories where no legislation to this effect has been enacted women are not so employed.