The Connecticut labor news., 1924-11-15
LABOR REFORMS IN ORIENT PROTECT
 U. s. TOILERS
By International Labor News Service.

By International Labor News Service
 Washington, D. C., Nov. 15.-The vast difference between labor condi- tions in the United States and in Ori- ental countries is emphasized by sum mary of labor reforms recently accom- phshed in China, Japan, India and Persia through the International Labor Office, an agency of the League of Nations
 The reforms, though inadequate, mark a decided step in advance and improve the status of Asiatic labor and reduce unfair competition with countries like the United States that maintain better working conditions and shorter workdays. The four na- tions in which the reforms have been made have an almost unlimited supply of cheap labor and few of the workers are organized.
 China Protects Factory Workers.
 In China the government has re- gently taken the first steps toward the state regulation of labor conditions, having accepted the recommendations of the International Labor Offices Commission for the protection of labor by factory regulation.
 The effects of these regulations have been as follows:
 China has reduced the number of hours of work per day from an un- limited number to 10 hours per day.
 China has prohibited the employ rnent of boys under 10 years of age and girls under 12.
 China has limited the hours of work of young persons to 8 hours day for boys under Y and for girls under l8. China has prohibited night work for boys under 17 and for girls under 18 { China has provided for the granting of five weeks rest before and after childbirth together with money bene- fit to women employed in industry.
 China has provided for medical at tendance, at the employers expense, in the case of employees accidents or sickness arising out of work.
 Japan Takes Step Forward.
 Tn Japan the employment of children under the age of 12 has been pro .hibited. Children over the age of 12 may be admitted to employment If they have finished the course in the elementary school
 The employment of children under the age of IA years on board ship has been prohibited. Japan has prohibited the employ 'ment of any child or young person under IS years of age on board ship, unless he is provided with medical certificate attesting fitness for uch work.
 Japan has given effect to the un- employment convention providing for the establishment of free pubic em- ployment exchanges and for reef procity of treatment for immigrants under unemployment insurance sys- tems.
 Japan has adhered to the Berne convention of 1906 prohibiting the use of white phosphorus in the nanufac- ture of matches.
 Legislation embodying general prln- ciples for the protection of women be- fore and after childbirth has also been passed.
 An act providing that the, night work of women and young persons should be absolutely prohibited three years from the date of the enforce ment of the act has been adopted
 India Reduces Hours of Labor.
 In India the hours of labor of adult factory workers have been reduced from 72 hours to 60 hours.
 The minimum age for the employ ment of children has been raised from 9 to F years in certain industries, and the number of hours during which a child may be employed in factory has been reduced from seven hours per day to six hours.
 India has extended the application
 
 of the Indian factories act from fac tories using mechanical power and employing at least 50 persons to all factories using mechanical power and employing 20 persons or more. Au- thority has been given local govern ments to extend the application of the act still further to factories employing only 10 persons.
 The employment of any persons un- der IS years of age as triTnmers or stokers on ships has been prohibited, with certain exceptions.
 It has also provided for a weekly rest in all industry and the establish ment of free public employment ex- 1L0