Dr. Guestasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of native African workers on strike in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines; at what mines they are employed; whether these mines are under British management; what are the rates of wages paid for the various grades of workers; and what are the hours worked?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI understand that the number of African workers who have recently been on strike in the Northern Rhodesia copper mines is approximately 15,000 and that nearly all these workers were employed at the Nkana (including the Mindolo section) and Mufulira mines. The companies which own these mines, namely, the Rhokana Corporation, Limited, and the Mufulira Copper Mines, Limited, are British and are controlled from London.
The wages of the African mine employés at the Nkana mine are as follow: Wages of underground workers start at 22s. 6d. per ticket of 30 days with an increment of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets until 37s. 6d. is reached. After nine tickets at 37s. 6d., the pay is increased to 40s.; thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. after every nine tickets to 45s.; and thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. every 12 tickets up to a maximum of 50s.Wages of surface workers start at 12s. 6d. and proceed by increments of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets until 20s. is reached, this being the limit for unskilled labour. Wages for skilled labour proceed to 25s. by increments of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets; then by increments of 2s. 6d. 590W after every nine tickets to 32s. 6d.; and thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. after every 12 tickets up to 40s. Holders of blasting licences earn 2s. 6d. extra.
The wages of African mine employésat the Mufulira mine are as follow: Underground workers start at 22s. 6d. per monthly ticket and earn increments of 2s. 6d. after every four tickets until 50s. is reached. The average pay of underground workers is 27s. 6d. per month. Skilled underground workers receive 55s. plus a bonus of 10s., and all underground workers receive a 5s. clothing bonus. Half of all increments is added as an efficiency bonus, Drill workers receive a bonus of 1d. per 5 foot over a 60-foot drill. After 18 months' service a holiday and travelling allowance is provided at the rate of 18s. with a further 1s. per month. The wages of surface workers start at 12s. 6d. per monthly ticket with increases of 1s. 3d. after every three months to a maximum of 30s. The average rate of pay is 22s. 4d. plus 7s. 6d. bonus. The highest rate is 30s. Holiday and travelling allowances are the same as for underground workers.
The above rates have recently been increased by the grant of a cost-of-living bonus of 2s. 6d. a month. Workers also receive rations which at the Mufulira mine are at the following weekly rates: 14 lb. of meal, 28 oz. of beans, 12 oz. of nuts, 1 lb. of fruit, 1 lb. of vegetables, 1 lb. of rice, 4 lb. of meat, ¼ lb. of dripping, ¼ lb. of salt, 7 pints of cocoa, 42 oz. of bread. These rations are for underground workers. The rations for surface workers are the same except for cocoa and bread. Both surface and underground workers receive free hospital treatment for themselves and families and free water and housing. The compound has bathrooms and water-borne sewerage. Their families are given free mealies and salt.
As regards the last part of the Question, a 48-hour week is normally worked at the mines, but workers on smelter, power houses and essential services underground (and at Nkana Refinery) work a 56-hour week with 32 hours off every third week. In addition, overtime at Nkana varied for the 3½ months ended 16th March from .44 to .62 hours per man per shift. At Mufulira overtime during the last three months has averaged .25 hours per man per shift and in addition about 2,000 workers have been employed on alternative Sundays.
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Dr. Guestasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many native African workers are employed in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines; whether they are employed on a contract basis and for how long, and from what parts of Africa these workers are recruited?
Mr. MacDonaldThe number of African workers employed in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines in January, 1940, was 26,203. These workers are not employed on a written contract, but on monthly verbal contracts as is common throughout East Africa. The great majority, 23,570, of the workers employed are Northern Rhodesians. The remaining workers came from Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Portuguese West Africa, Portuguese East Africa and the Belgian Congo.