26. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the conditions covering the employment of children in Nyasaland; the minimum age of employment; and whether any welfare, supervision and inspection have been arranged?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe Nyasaland Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Ordinance provides that no child under the age of twelve years shall be employed in any public or private industrial undertaking (as defined in the International Labour Convention on the subject), except where only members of the same family are employed, or where the employment involves light work of a character approved by the Governor, and that no young person between the ages of twelve and fourteen years shall be 1617 employed in any industrial undertaking other than an undertaking in which only members of the same family are employed, except and in so far as the employment has been authorised by a licence issued by the Governor. The Ordinance further prohibits absolutely the employment at night of any such persons; and it also prohibits the employment at night of young persons between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years, except under licence issued by the Governor. The Labour Department is responsible for the general supervision of labour in the Protectorate, but the Ordinance provides that any District Commissioner or any European police officer shall have power to enter the land or premises of any industrial undertaking and to inquire into the conditions of employment of any person affected by the provisions of the Ordinance.
Mr. Creech JonesWould the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether there has been some modification in recent months in regard to the age limit for employment, and if there has been modification, will he see that satisfactory arrangements are made in respect to welfare?
§ Mr. MacmillanYes, Sir.