§ 76. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Government administered Labour Exchanges for non-Europeans have been set up in the larger urban centres of the African Colonies, where they are situated and what use is being made of them.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsFollowing is the reply:
Nigeria.—Employment Exchanges and Registration Offices for adults have been established at Lagos, Benin and Sapele. In addition there are Exchanges for juveniles at Lagos, Benin, Ibadan and Sapele. Full use is being made of all the Exchanges, except as yet in the case of the adult Exchange at Benin. A further Exchange at Jos to deal initially with tin mines labour will be opened shortly.
Gold Coast.—The offices of the Labour Department at Accra, Sekondi and Kumasi and most District Commissioner's Offices constitute small unofficial labour exchanges. In addition there are 17 Labour and Resettlement Advice Centres, the services of which were sought by approximately 30,000 persons during 1947.
Sierra Leone.—Labour Exchanges have been opened at Freetown, Bo and two smaller centres for the use of both ex-Servicemen and civilians. During 1947, 22,438 persons registered for employment with the Freetown Exchange, of which 12,160 were placed in employment. Corresponding figures for the Exchange at Bo were 2,050 and 904 persons.
Gambia.—It has not been found necessary to establish a Labour Exchange in the Gambia, but an unofficial register of clerks, tradesmen and domestic servants is maintained in Bathurst by the Labour Officer. During 1947, approximately 500 persons were placed in employment by this means.
Kenya.—There is an African Central Employment Bureau which controls 11 Labour Exchanges, 6 of which are situated in urban areas and 5 in the native reserves. During 1947 approximately 5,000 Africans, 76W both ex-Service men and civilians, were found employment or placed in training by these Exchanges. For Asians, there exist Employment Bureaux at Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. Apart from that at Nairobi, however, these bureaux are at present little used, owing mainly to the shortage of Asian artisans and the consequent ease with which they may obtain employment by other means.
Tanganyika Territory.—There is a Central Labour Bureau at Dar-es-Salaam which co-ordinates the activities of 18 regional Exchanges and deals with applications from districts where no Exchange exists. During 1947, 6,509 Africans and Asians registered at these Exchanges, of which 4,219 were placed in employment. It is understood that in general, increasing use is being made of the Exchanges by Africans, but decreasing use by Asians.
Uganda.—There are no Labour Exchanges at present, although it is intended that the existing Civil Re-absorption Office should devolve into an Exchange during March, 1948.
Nyasaland.—There are eight local Registry Offices. Little use is made of these, most non-Europeans preferring to take advantage of the local shortage of labour and to make their own contact with prospective employers.
Zanzibar.—The only Exchange is situated in Zanzibar Town, through which 403 persons found employment in 1947. Owing to the existence of a considerable standing casual labour force, maximum use of the Exchange is not made by employers.
Northern Rhodesia.—Labour Exchanges are situated at Livingstone, Lusaka, Broken Hill, Ndola, Chingola, Mufulira, Kitwe and Luanshya. The average number of Africans placed in employment monthly by each of these is 30.