§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the wage rates for skilled and unskilled workers in building and ancillary trades in the Bahamas; and the comparison between the average earnings of a Bahamian worker and these in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad, respectively.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st May, 1958; Vol. 587, col. 56], supplied the following further information:
The following are the hourly wage rates paid to workers in the Bahamas in 104W building and ancillary trades other than Government:
Wage rates in Government employ are as follows:
- Painters—6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per hour.
- Masons—6s. to 8s. per hour.
- Carpenters—7s. to 10s. per hour.
- Labourers—2s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per hour.
- Painters—5s. to 5s. 9d. per hour.
- Masons—6s. 3d. to 7s. per hour.
- Carpenters—6s. to 7s. per hour.
- Labourers—3s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. per hour.
No information is available regarding the average earnings of workers, except in Trinidad, but the figures given above may be compared with the following wage rates payable by private enterprise to workers in similar trades in Jamaica, Barbadoes and Trinidad:
Jamaica
Painters—2s. 1½d. to 4s. 10d. per hour.
Masons—2s. 1½d. to 5s. per hour.
Carpenters—2s. 1½d. to 5s. 10d. per hour.
Lalbourers—1s. 8½d. to 3s. 7d. per hour.
Barbados
Painters—1s. 5½d. to 1s. 9d. per hour.
Masons—1s. 514. to 2s. 3d. per hour.
Carpenters—1s 5½d. to 2s. 3d. per hour.
Labourers—1s. 0½d. to 1s. 3d, per hour.
Trinidad
Painters—1s. 10d. per hour.
Masons—2s. per hour.
Carpenters—1s. 10d. per hour.
Labourers—1s. 5½d. per hour.