Evening star., 1896-07-25
JAPAN'S FACTORY GIRLS.
They Work for Little and Keen
Forever at Ii.


Forever at II.
From the Chicago Times II erald.
Japanese factory girls are divided into
night workers and day workers. the work.
ing hours being generally twelve, but when
time for tiffin and SO forth is taken away
the real working hours do not exceed
eleven. 1t is not. however, infrequent for
girls, when the business Of the mill is
pressing, to work extra six hours or SO,
and, as OH such occasions they are paid
extra sen, they are not much averse to
subject themselves to such tremendous
overwork The regular holidays for girls
are about five or six days per year; also
week beginning from the latter part of
the year to the beginning of the next year
ana then every week. when machines are
ponshed and cease running, girls can enjoy
a few hours rest. Though such is the
strain which the factory work demands of
them, the number who work uninterrupt-
euly Tor year or even two three years
Is not small, and there are some grown-up
girls that are in a factory above twenty
years They enjoy monthly salary of 10
yen, Keep household of their own, and
can, as Japanese gentleman put 1t, even
afrord to maintain their husbands
The sick rate Of girls is very small, only
four or five girls per day, out of about
LOO girls employed in one large mill 1
visited. Generally in each mill a regular
physician is on duty, and examines and
prescribes for girls who feel themselves in
disposed. When a girl is absent on ac-
count of sickness she is allowed half of
the lowest limit of wages; that is, sen
day; but when her confinement has been
brought about through the discharge of
duties. as for instance, injury sustained
from machines. then she is entitled to the
full amount of her wages till the time of
ner recovery. and even a certain amount
OF consolation gift upon her recovery. The
maximum charge for medicine is 3 sen per
NJ rivry Aha L.,
ment, the bill of medicines reaches COM
parativeiy large sum to the means of a
girl she is allowed to pay it by INSTALL
ments after she has recovered health. Bat
When me factory doctor declares the case
lncurable then the mill will undertake to
pay the expenses which the girl has in
Cured on account Of sickness, and will
also provide her travelling expense. 1t is
said, therefore, that for one girl returned
to her parents In that way her employees
incur the loss Of 20 yen or so.
The majority Of cases of illness consist Of
lung trouble. In some mills the opera tives
organize what may be called q mutual
relief society, with a certain fund. which,
IN large mills, can obtain as receipts in
the form of contribution of officers and
operatives sum Of a little less than $50
yen IN half year. In engaging opera
tives factories generally advance to then.
travelling expenses, to be refunded in two
years. But when the girls go through the
service or three years their employees will
give them, by way of parting present, one
ialf the expenses needed in going back
The majority Of the girls are engaged
through the medium of agents. to whom
tne charse OF 20 yen is to be paid at first
by each girl. and also the monthly charge
OF yen, all through the term, the latter
being the charge for acting as security of
girls This responsibility undertaken by
agents must prove highly convenient for
employers. and the latter are, therefore
more inclined to get hands through the me-
dunn of agents At present owing to the
activity OF various industries in the inter-
ior, every mill finds it Difficult: to secure
the services Of operatives