SWEATED LABOUR.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18456, 10 August 1925, Page 9

SWEATED LABOUR.

UNIFORM STANDARDS. BRITISH PARTY>S RECOMMEND ATIONS. ——• : (BT CIHLB—FBISS ASSOCIATION—COPIVORT.) j (4USTRAUAS AXD 5.2. CA»U AB*OCUttOH.) ! (deceived August Dth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 7. An interim report of tho Labour Paarty s committee, which is investigating sweating, recommends that the importation of products of prison or slave labour should bo completely prohibited. The committee concludes: ''Tho progress of industrialism necessitate* the establishment of international standards of labour and conditions. Tho manipulation of tariffs provides no remedy for sweated goods, as discriminatory tariffs leave untouched tho competition of sweated goods in foreign markets Discriminatory tariffs drive the offending country to produce even more cheaply, and to sweat its workpeople more disgracefully, and labour standards aro thus degraded. The International Labour Conventions provide the elements of an international code of labour conditions. The persistent refusal of a nation to carry tho convention into effect should be followed by the exclusion of its sweated goods by all signatory States."

Owing to tho impossibility of fixing an international minimum of subsistence, owing to differences in climate and physiological needs, especially in Asiatio countries, the committee does not propose that the definition of sweating should include wages, but says that it is possible to call upon the convention to establish minimum wages machinery for the different countrios, and to raise wages in all industrios to a given percentage of the wages for average, unskilled workers. An active lead in the matter is required from Britain and other industrial nations.

TJie "Daily Herald" desdribes the sweated goods report as a dear-cut definite alternative to the protectionism of the Tories and the doctrine of ires trade of the Liberals.

(itEOTER'S TEXJSOBAJIS.) (Received August 9th, 5.5 pm.) LONDON, August 7;

Tho report of tho committed appointed by the Labour Party to investigate sweated imports recommends international action against sweating, for which purpose the existing machinery provided in the Pesos Treaty should be utilised, supplemented by the resolution of the International Labour Conferenoe. binding the signatories to enforoe a boycott (which is applicable only where an alternative supply is available) against goods produced under conditions not conforming to the Washington Hours Convention, though the committee emphasises the uselessnesa of tariff manipulation as a remedy against sweated goods.