§ 3. Sir G. Foxasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the majority of workers in East Africa are "target workers"; that the postwar increase in salaries and rise in prices of produce have seriously affected the labour supply; that the general native working output has deteriorated as a result of their being able to achieve their target more easily than before the war; and what steps he proposes taking to improve the present situation and to prevent this state of affairs spreading further.
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Mr. Creech JonesI am fully aware of these facts which were described in my Labour Adviser's Report on Labour Conditions in East Africa. This problem can be met in several ways, by improving the efficiency of the workers in terms of health and sound conditions, by increasing the incentive to work and by making the actual conditions of work more attractive. Greater efficiency should follow from the health educational and social services provided for in the long term programmes now being made. Increased incentive depends not necessarily on wages though these are receiving attention, but also on an increased supply of consumer goods which is only possible to a limited extent in present circumstances. All the East African Governments are taking active steps to secure an improvement in the general conditions of labour and with this object have, since the end of the war, given attention to improved welfare provisions and considerably strengthened the organisation of their Labour Departments.