§ 23. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that shop assistants in Malaya are called upon to work 15 hours a day and many have to sleep among the merchandise of their shops; and if he will take steps to see that the Working Hours Act and the provisions in the labour code are carried out and that more frequent inspections by the health officers are made.
§ Mr. LytteltonI am not aware that hours of work are as suggested in the Question. Some assistants do sleep in their shops to save renting rooms. There is no Working Hours Act and the labour code does not apply to shop assistants. The Legislative Council is, however, alive to the problem, and passed an Ordinance giving powers for inquiries into hours and working conditions, including those of shop assistants, to see what new legislation is called for.