Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-11-15
WORKING WOMEN IN JAPAN.

All Americans engaged in textile in
dustries cannot fail to be vitality inter-
ested in the following concise account
Of the women Of Japan who work in
textile mills, with whose product the
American article comes in competition
in every Asiatic market. The women
Of the poorer class in Japan are en-
gagged in wage-earning labor to far
greater extent than American women
imagine, weaving being their chief &C.
cupation. Japanese women weave as
American women sew, "for living"
and in some districts much OF the
weaving Is done in their homes. In
other places there are regularly equip
ped mills, with modern machinery. In
the factories over $4,000 women are
employed, whose wages vary from a
sum equivalent to about rs cents day
to less than Is cents. The men get
from 20 cents to 40 cents day. Many
more women than men are employed,
in ages ranging from IL years to 80
years In some of the mills there Is
system Of prizes for faithful service;
in others there is an increase of wages
three or four times year as the work
er becomes more skilled. Nearly every
mill has some form Of recognition of
improved work and steady service, and
the girls are encouraged to thrift as
we'll as industry. In many of them
system of either voluntary or compul-
sorry saving is in force and 10 per cent
interest is paid on all such deposits of
whatsoever character, although in the
case OF compulsory savings they are
forfeited If the girl leaves before the
expiration of her stipulated term,
which Is usually three years. That the
system is beneficial may be assumed
from the fact that often they have ac-
cumulated 500 or $3.50 at the end of
three years. This Is not strange when
the cheapness of living is considered
Breakfast consists of boiled rice and
pickles or bean soup; for dinner, rice
and vegetables are served, and for sup
per, rice and fish or meat. Some of
the mills and factories have boarding
houses attached, at which board is
given to the girls at the lowest posi-
BILE prices, amounting to not more than
costume is worn by the employees in
some factories, and is purchased from
the firm for about 81, which is paid in
four or five monthly instalments. Ev-
erything else required, such as Shoes
umbrellas and bedclothes, is furnished
by the mill. In Toxic the mill-owners
have begun to provide some education
for the employees, and after work hours
they are taught reading, writing and
sewing. The girls are divided into
night and day force, each working
about eleven hours. They have five or
six holidays during the year and
week at the beginning of the new year.
They also have several hours a week |
for rest, while the machinery is being |
inspected for repairs. The work does |
not seem to hurt the operatives as the |
sick rate Is exceedingly low, says an
In one mill, for instance, |
where LOO girls are employed there
Is daily average of not more than |
four cases Of sickness. A physician is
to each factory, and women
who are sick are allowed one-half their
wages. In cases of injury received in
the discharge of duty full wages and
a consolation gift" are allowed. When
a trouble is pronounced incurable the
defray medical charges,
which are about three cents day, and
pay the patients expenses to her home
Most of the illness is some form of
lung trouble. The operatives are usu-
ally engaged through agents who guar
antee the girls trustworthiness and
,apability. For this service each girl
pays the agent 20 cents on going to
work and two cents a month during
her three years term of employment.
There are in Toxic mills a number of
employees who have been in the same
Mills over twenty years. Japanese
women of the middle class are entering
life more and more. There
ire now many trained nurses who have
studied in the hospitals. a few physi-