Danish Houeswives Attempt Solution of Servant Problem

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

Danish Houeswives Attempt Solution of Servant Problem

Housewives are interested in a p«lan drawn up by Danish housewives and domestic servants, in collaboration, with tho object of solving the country’s pressing * ‘servant problem,” writes a correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Points in it include regulation of hours and wages; proper training of servants; award of certificates of competence to servants so trained; and the signing of a contract between servant and housewife when the servant is engaged. The scheme has been worked out by the Association of Housewives and the House Servants’ Trade Union.

Danish girls, like those of othe. countries, prefer the freedom of factory life, with smaller wages, to household work with indefinite hours and doubtful freedom. Sponsors of the new proposals have started from the basis that if tho supply of servants is to be increased the old prejudices of house wives regarding their servants must bo abandoned.

Housework, they say, can very well bo comparable with other occupations if there is good will on both sides. It should be possible, they declare, to fix working and free time by law, and settle wages according to simple principles. For this, however, the domestic help must bo properly qualified for the work and so must be trained. Period of Training

Though servants and employers agree about the proposals in general, there is said to be some difference of opinion about the period of training. Some housewives w r ant it to be three years, while the servants’ organisation considers one year’s practical training and six months in a training school is sufficient. The practical training would take place in the homes of qualified housewives, who have run their own homes for four or five years. It is claimed that the work can be divided up into convenient periods which, together, would make up an eight-hour day.

The main objection of girls to domestic service is that they have to live on the premises. To overcome this objection a gradual transition to the household help “living out” is recommendded, where possible. Where this is not practicable, the servant's right to have her freedom after working hours must be respected.

The standard contract which with training, forms the most important point in the proposals would provide for maximum working hours, days off, and holidays (with board and wages paid), undisturbed evenings, fair wages, and fixing of conditions regarding food, lodging, use of bath, receiving friends, and so on.

Finally, the setting up of a special tribunal is proposed to deal with disputes between housewives and servants in cases wtere agreement cannot be reached between the organisations of the two parties.