The latest issue of the International Labour Review Statistical Supplement has a table of figures on the 'General level of hours of work' which show British workers are lageing behind in the fight for shorter hours. Of the countries quoted, only leru has a worse record, and even countries like the United Arab Republic are reducing their hours of work whilst British workers slip back.
We have reproduced below the most important sections of the tables: Year ULAR. U.S.A. PERU JAPAN SRANCE We GERG ANY U.K. Yea ZEALAND 1955 51 40.9 - 45.0 45.4 48.9 46.9 - 1956 51 40.9 - 46.0 45.7 48.2 46.6 ~ 1957 49 40.5 44.7 45.8 46.0 46.5 46.4 39.0 1958 52 40.1 45.0 45.7 45.6 45.7 46.0 39.1 1959 50 40.0 46.3 46.2 45-5 45.6 46.7 39,0 1960 Ag 40.0 46.0 46.8 4507 45.6 46.0 59,3 1961 48 40.2 46.5 46.4 45.9 45.5 47.4 39,1 1962 46 40.2 46.5 45.7 46.2 44.9 47.0 48.9 1963 - 40.1 - - - - 47.6 39.0