An article in the May issue of the IMinistry of Labour Gazette gives a summary of working conditions in India and Pakistan. We quote some of the facts and figures.
India: "Statistics on wages, collectel under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, are published from tims tg time. The latest available figures show that in 1959 the highest average annual wage was £115.5s,. (in electrical engineering), the lowest, &£78.7s (in the leather industry), the average being £10~dd. note: these figures work out at approx. £2.4.4d, £1.10.2d and £1.28.5d per respectively. "Tt is estimated that nine-and=a-half million persons are unemployed and some three—and-ahalf millions will join the labour force each year as against less than three million jobs being created as industrialisation progresses. In the rural areas there is considerable under-employment which has been estimated at between 15 and 18 millions." In other words capitalism has proven quite unable to solve the problem of giving work to the Indian masses and what's more the situation will grow worse each year.
Pakistan: "The minimum age of admission to factory employment is 12 years..." (our emphasis) "Information about wages is collected through vorious sources, including returns from factories registered under the Factories Act. The latest report, relating to 1959, shows that the highest average annual wage . was £126. 4s (in the paper and printing industry), the lowest, £65. 12s (in the textile industry), the average boing ee Ed. note: these figures work out at approx. £2.8.6a, &1.5s. and £1.8.98 rh ctively. "There are no national security provisions..." and because there are no real Government employment agencies the '..only statistics published relate to a small section of the labour force and for this reason are unsuitable for purposes of comparison." In other words no one knows how many unemployed there are.