A.—7.

An Act to provide compensation in the event of accident or occupational disease has been extended to all classes of workers, and the benefits increased. A housing scheme for porkers has recently been put into operation, and technical and occupational education has been accelerated by erection of additional institutions for the teaching of these subjects. A proposal is at present under consideration for the introduction of an institute lor vocational guidance. Unemployment is practically non-existent in the country. Egypt. The Egyptian Government have recently undertaken a house-building scheme to provide workers dwellings, and legislative measures have been introduced restricting the hours of work in the cotton-ginning industry, which have now been reduced to nine hours per day and five hours consecutively. This industry has also been included in the list of unhealthy and dangerous industries. The recent visit of the Director of the International Labour Office has inspired the Government to a live interest in matters touching on social and industrial reform. Yugoslavia.—The year 1937 has witnessed a return to prosperity, and the Government of this country have recently embarked 011 a programme of increased activity on public works and social reforms which, with the added increase in foreign trade, has resulted in higher wages to the workers and the spreading of the benefits of prosperity throughout the country. A system of invalidity and old-age insurance, together with a special insurance scheme for private employees, has also been introduced during 1937. Norway.—-Tv/o of the Draft Conventions adopted by the Maritime Conference have been ratified, and a Bill has been introduced extending the benefits of the eight-hour day already operating in respect of the large majority of other employees—to seamen 1 . A committee to study labour conditions in agriculture has been set up, with a view to preparing complete agricultural-labour legislation. Legislative measures have been taken to fix the minimum age for entry of children into industry; and a project is in hand to institute a complete system of unemployment insurance. Cuba—During the past year the Cuban Government have introduced a comprehensive system of insurance covering unemployment, old age, sickness, invalidity, and death The workers compensation scheme previously in operation lias been amended and the benefits considerably improved. An Act has recently been passed affecting practically the whole field of labour relationships, including hours of work, wages, termination of contracts, apprenticeship &e. Overtime payment has been introduced, with a view to restricting hours of employment m industry. Sickness to workers is provided for to the extent of nine days annually on tuli pay. No deductions from wages are permitted; and steps have been taken to regulate the employment of young persons. Rumania.—lt.is the intention in this country shortly to segregate the Ministry of Labour from the Departments of Health and Relief to allow for a more intensive application to the development of working-class legislation and labour problems. Progress has been most marked m this country of recent years in the advance of legislation for" the regulation and protection of working-conditions, and second offences against the Acts providing for the weekly rest, the protection of women and children, or the life and health of the workers are now punishable under the new penal code. Conditions of emplovment jurisdiction m labour disputes, and social insurance for agricultural workers, who comprise the majority of the population, are at present the subject of study by the Ministry of Wl T' .with a view to early legislative action. The application and enforcement of industrial legislation devolves upon sixteen Chambers of Labour set up throughout the country. _ Labour Courts and Arbitration Committees, instituted of recent vears, are proving effective m the settlement of industrial disputes. Fee-charging employment agencies have been abolished, the responsibility of placing persons in employment being accepted by the state, and thirty-five offices have been set up throughout the country to this end Notwithstanding that unemployment is practically unknown,' these offices assume the placing of such as semi-mvalids, orphans, widows, &c. Technical education and apprenticeship have recently been the subject of serious consideration by the Government and three Acts have been put into operation covering this sphere, for which a special Labour Fund has been created. The field of social insurance has been widened, the total of insured persons reaching one million, of which numbers have received free medical aid and hospital treatment, the funds for which are provided on an equal contributory basis Scheme emp ee ' A § Tl( -' u]tu ral workers, however, do not as yet receive benefits China. During the first half of 1937 China made an appreciable recovery in industry tra m' ,• +! assi . stanc e of the undertaking of large-scale public works, alone lesponsible for the absorption of approximately two million unemployed workers However the progress so shown has not been maintained, and has been seriously retarded owing to the destruction of factories and towns by the ravages of war in the country Afghanistan,—The Government of Afghanistan has devoted itself, energetically, during the past year to a programme of agricultural reform, the cultivation of cotton fige-scalf public works, and the development of the mineral resources of the JunSy wth the result that unemployment is practically unknown in this country With the institution of a Department of Agriculture charged with the development of' agricultural production and the welfare of the workers so employed, much improvement in this field

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