Sociala Meddelan Do. den. Sweden....... K. K. Socialstyrelsen...... Direktor.... Stockholm.. Switzerland.. Secretariat Ouvrier Suisse Secretaire... Zurich..... Uruguay.... Oficina del Trabajo (semiofficial). (Ministero de Industrias, Montevideo. International. International Labor Office. Director.... Basel, Swit zerland. 1 Special labor division in the police department create in 1913 but its scope of investigation, etc., limited to the cities of Lima and Callao. 2 A general ministry of commerce and industry. 3 Only a public employment office (labor department) in the ministry of mines and industry. In order that the issues of the MONTHLY REVIEW may appear on or before the 1st of the month for which they are issued, this number is published earlier than was originally planned. This be ing the August issue, the September number will appear on or before September 1. MINIMUM-WAGE LEGISLATION, 1915. So far as appears at the date of this publication the only new minimum-wage law enacted during the legislative sessions of 1915 is that of Arkansas. The Legislature of Nebraska made an appropriation ($500) for the expenses of the minimum-wage commission of that State, thus making it possible for the first time for any action to be taken under the act of 1913. In Massachusetts the minimumwage commission is authorized to require employers to post in their establishments such information or matter as the commission may indicate. The Arkansas statute is in immediate effect from the date of its passage, and applies to females working in any manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry, or express or transportation company, restricting also the hours of labor in such places of employment to 9 per day and 54 per week. The statute fixes a daily wage rate of not less than $1.25 for all female workers of six months' experience, with a minimum of $1 for inexperienced workers. Where there is a shorter workday than the maximum fixed by the act, the rate per hour shall be the same as for those working 9 hours per day. Piecework, bonus systems, etc., must secure to the worker a remuneration not less than that fixed by the act. If the commissioners find that in any line of industry payment by the piece is working an injury to the general health of the employees, they may, after hearing, order the abolition of piecework and the substitution of a daily rate of wages for all female employees. If it be shown "beyond question of doubt" that the limitation of hours would "work irreparable injury" in such industries as can neries and candy factories, the commission may allow work in excess of 9 hours daily for not more than 90 days in any year, the wages for overtime to be at a rate of one and one-half times the regular rate. If it appears that the rate fixed by the act is higher than necessary to properly support a female worker in any occupation, a lower rate may be fixed by the commission; while if the rate proves inadequate, a higher rate, such as is determined reasonable by the commission, may be established. A special provision relates to hotels, restaurants, and telephone offices, as to which rules and regulations may be prescribed by the commission not permitting more than 9 hours' work nor a lower rate of wages than will supply the cost of proper living and safeguard health and welfare, the rate of wages not to "be greater than the rate of wages specified" in the act. It should be kept in mind in this connection, however, that the commission is not fixing a maximum, but is simply precluded from fixing a higher minimum than that named in the act. The law does not apply to cotton factories, to the gathering or preservation of fruits and perishable farm products, nor to establishments where fewer than three females are employed, nor to those working three or less employees in the same building at the same time doing the same class of work." Violations by employers and employees are punishable by fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100, each day of noncompliance to constitute a separate offense. The commission to administer the act consists of the "commissioner of labor and statistics and two competent women, to be appointed, one by the governor and the other by the State commissioner of labor and statistics." The law is unique in that it provides a statutory rate and also a commission with authority to fix rates. This puts the law into effect immediately without awaiting the action of the commission. Action to modify will apparently await the initiative of the parties in interest, though the act does not specify as to this. Findings are to be reached after public hearings in which all interested persons may present arguments. Questions as to the breadth of the exceptions necessarily arise, and especially as to the definition of the term "class of work" in the clause exempting establishments in which not more than three females are employed in the same building at the same time doing the same class of work. Doubtless this will be passed upon by the commission, however, rather than by the employer. IMMIGRATION IN 1915. Data furnished by the Bureau of Immigration of the department show a marked decrease in the number of immigrants admitted to the United States during each of the months of the year 1915 as com pared with the numbers admitted for the same months of 1914. Preliminary figures for August show this decrease to continue. Thus from August 1 to 5 there arrived in 1913 at eastern ports 23,044 immigrants, as compared with 10,722 for the same period in 1914, a decrease of 53.5 per cent, while in 1915 for the same days there was a further decrease from the arrivals of 1914 of 66.7 per cent. IMMIGRANT ALIENS ADMITTED TO AND DEPARTING FROM THE UNITED STATES DURING EACH OF THE MONTHS OF JANUARY TO JUNE, 1914 AND 1915. Total.. Per cent decline, 1915.. 70.40 79.20 44, 708 15, 481 16,873 13, 873 92, 621 19, 263 119, 885 24, 532 107, 796 26, 069 71, 728 22,598 65.37 79.54 75.82 68.49 |