from Dave Windsor Despite the fact that wuemployment is zooming over 120,000 women, and boys and girls between 16 and 18 are working hours not permitted by the Factory Act of 1961. The way the employers get round this Act is by applying to the Minister - Ray Gunter - for a special exemption under Section 117 of the Act. On the 31st of October, the numbers covered by these exemptions were: Type of employment women 18 years Boys 16-18 Girls 16-18 Total permitted by the Orders and over Excess hours 38,073 1,910 4,874 44,857 Double day shifts 29,433 1, 657 2,658 33,748 Long spells 7,954 284 916 9,154 Night shifts 5,656 1,457 “ 7,113 Part time work 12,224 ~ 1 12, 225 Saturday afternoon work 2, 386 93 63 2,542 Sunday work 8,572 487 93 9,152 Misc, 4,914 293 182 5, 389
Total 109, 212 6,181 8,787 124,180
Excess hours are those worked over and above the number permitted by the Act in a given day; long spells are. those which exceed the maximum number of hours without a break specified by the Act; and the figure for part time work covers those working in hours not allowed by the Act. This figures are an absolute disgrace: when hundreds of thousands of motor car workers are on short time we find a Labour Minister of Labour permitting nearly 6,000 young workers under 18 to work hours which are considered to be too long. ::The figure of over 12,000 women working on part time work in hours not permitted by the Act is very sinister, Translated into human terms it probably means mothers compelled to work ghastly hours - very early in the morning or very late at night - because they have to look after young children in the day, Over 11,000 are permitted to work weekends; how many of them must be on a seven day week? Many people will be astounded when they read that thousands of women are working night shifts, along with nearly 1,560 boys under 18, The figure for double day shifts includes 10,181 employed on shift work which involves work on Saturdays or Sundays, It would seem to me that the trade union movement should stamp this kind of thing out completely, M.P.s should point out that the function of the Minister of Labour is not to facilitate the working of hours injurious to health but to prevent it. By granting these permits, the Minister puts the convenience of employers in the interest of earning profits above thet of the young people's health, . The article in the Ministry of Labour Gazette (November, 1966), which gives ‘these figures, talks all the way through about "persons" - which just about typifies the callousness involved, Maybe soon we will read of "units of production"!