§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the minimum wage paid to agricultural workers in Nyasaland per week; what are the number of hours worked; and if the wages paid include rations and housing facilities.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWage rates for agricultural workers in Nyasaland are fixed on a daily basis. The present minimum wage—which is usually exceeded in practice—is one shilling per day and this will be increased to one shilling and three pence a day from 1st July. Both amounts include an allowance for food, hut the sum permitted to be deducted for their food is limited to an amount which only partially reimburses42W the employer for the cost of the food. The limit for deduction for food supplied, sufficient for full daily needs, will be 4d. per day from 1st July.
Eight working hours are regarded as a normal working day, and overtime at one and a half times the minimum wage rate is paid for work done in excess of 48 hours a week. Employers are required to provide housing, at their own expense, for every employee who is unable to return to his own home on completion of his day's work.