Evening star., 1933-03-12

PRAGUE-After a careful survey Of
the labor. industrial and economic sit
uation. the republic Of Czechoslovakia
intends to go on to the "40-hour week"
officially in the near future, regardless
as to whether neighboring countries do
likewise or not. Italy, which has been
experimenting with reduced working
hours as a means Of combating un-
employment and stimulating purchas-
ing capacity Of the masses as against
that of the classes, also can be ex-
pected to officially proclaim the shorter
working week as soon as international
action in the realm Of hours is gen.
orally accepted-or rejected.
The nationwide survey conducted by
the Czechoslovak ministry Of social
welfare has resulted in a recommen-
dation that Parliament Immediately
pass legislation making the "eight-hour
five-day week." or some other COM
bination Of 40 working hours for each
seven-day period. obligatory. Very
slight opposition has developed on the
part Of manufacturers, and this Is con-
fined, not against the reduced working
week, but rather to the legal aspects
Of the problem.
The highest court in the land, how
ever, has ruled that government regu-
lation is constitutional. In the appeal
brought by a manufacturer against
the administration over prosecution for
working his staff IL hours per day, the
Supreme Court has ruled that such
action violates the national eight-hour-
day act, regardless Of whether the
workers and management mutually
agreed to the extended working day.
Czechoslovakia was one of the first
countries to ratify and put into effect
the Washington Hours Convention,
drawn up at the International Labor
Conference in 1919, and the step from
the 48-hour week to the 40-hour week
Is a logical sequence in view Of the
critical situation which has developed
through excessive naturalization and
machinery and the worldwide eco
nomic crisis.
601,43S Unemployed.
During the past IL months unem-
ployment in Czechoslovakia has grown
rs per cent. As against 337,654 idle
workers a year ago there are now at
least COL ,438. In December, 1881. about
Z per cent Of the country's workers
were unemployed. Today more than
IL per cent Of the working population
is idle.
The effects Of decentralization" and
introduction of labor saving machinery
on Czechoslovak industry (the country
Is the most highly industrialized sec
ton of the former Austro- Hungarian
Empire), during the last few years, has
been startling. The government be-
lieves that, although the world crisis
passes. the country will still be con-
fronted by a section of population
chronically unemployed unless some re-
adjustment is forthcoming. A review
Of the industrial situation shows:
That in glass works, a major indus
try, persons now do with ma
chimes the work that 80 to 80 manual
laborers did some time ago. In one
sheet glass factory 400 workers are
now doing the work Of an original
5000. The production Of sheet glass
has doubled, while workers have been
reduced 40 per cent. Recently 1000
sheet glass workers lost their jobs per-
manently.
In quarries every new machine in
stalled replaces "a workers; in clay
pits men now do the work formerly
done by go.
Output Of Tiles Doubled.
In pottery factories the use Of ma
chinery has doubled the output OF
Dutch tiles, and at the same time
workers have been reduced by half.
Skilled workers are replaced by man.
ual laborers In enamel work.
One large metal works has intro
duced scientific heating, reducing the
normal consumption Of coal by 1900
tons daily, thereby throwing between
1900 and 1,400 miners out Of work;
an electrical smelling appliance has
trebled the output and assistants have
replaced skilled workmen.
In machine factories the output Of
sewing machines was boosted 40 per
cent without increasing the staff; !;
electrical appliances production gained
600 per cent on the same number OF
The vood industxv 1eucRts that one