Working Hours in Russia

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 16

Working Hours in Russia

Sir, —Of laie it has repeatedly been suggested that New Zealand is the only country in the world to enjoy the 40-hour week and that it should be abolished so that production will increase. In conversation recently someone claimed that the U.S.S.R. enjoyed a 35-hour week. I have also read of some agitation for paid annual holidays for all New Zealand workers. For very many reasons actual comparisons of hours and conditions of labour are exceedingly difficult to make but I have gone into this question very closely and can give a fairly accurate summary of the position. I have taken into account the regular public holidays, weekly half holidays and Sundays in New Zealand and the .regular public holidays and one weekly rest day in Soviet Russia but as I am dealing with annuaL holiday leave under a separate heading I am, for purposes of comparison, assuming that this period is worked in each instance.

New Zealand.—Large numbers work the 40-hour week and large numbers, shop assistants, etc., work the 44-hour week, while those on farms work much (longer hours. Children on leaving school work the same hours as adults. Soviet Russia—The Russian week is of six days only so I have converted the Russian weeks into New Zealand weeks. The Russian adult workers are divided into three categories: (a) The class corresponding to the New Zealand 44-hour class work a seven-hour day or 35 hours weekly, which is equivalent to 40.85 hours per week in New Zealand; (b) those engaged in heavy industir— New Zealand 40-hour class—work a six hour day or 30 hours weekly, which is equivalent to 35.11 hours per week in New Zealand; and (c)

.eaehers, scientists, etc. —also New Jealand 40-hour class —work a fivehour day or 25 hours weekly, which .s equivalent to 29.20 hours per week n New Zealand. Children: From 10 to 18 years a six hour day, 35.11 hours per week in New Zealand, is ,he maximum allowed by law and no children under 10 may be employed except in certain special cases when work is required in connection with their training. In such cases children from 14 to 10 may be employed for not over four-hours daily. At the end of the third fiveyear plan this will be altered to .rom 14 to 18.

Holidays.—Whereas ■in New Zealand some workers get no paid annual leave at all, in Soviet Russia every worker is paid.'for the full 305 days per year and every worker gets an absolute minimum of two weeks vacation on full pay; heavy industry workers get a month on full pay: teachers and scientists three months on full pay. Workers. showing diligence and initiative are provided with vacations of varying lengths in the various rest homes, free of. all cost including transport charges.

What has been the effect of this on production in Soviet Russia? The capitalist-world first ignored the first five year plan and later scoffed at ■it as an impracticable Bolshevik day dream. The iplan which aimed at a rate of ' industrial development for outstripping that df any other country in history was successfully completed in 4.1 years. Industrial production by that time had reached three times that of pre-war level and at the end of the second five year plan had risen to nine times pre-

war. All this on tbc reduced hours quoted above. STUDENT,