civil affairs handbook france section 9

8/4/2019 Civil Affairs Handbook France Section 9

1/115

ARMY SERVICE FORCES MANUAL

Ia~E~

ClVII AFFAIRS HANDBOOK

FRANCESECTION 9: LABOR

REPRINT OF PRELIMINARY DRAFT, CIVIL-AFFAIRS HANDBOOK ON FRANCE, SECTION 9

Dissemination of restricted matter. - The information con-tained In restricted documents and. the essential characteristics of restrictedmaterial may be given to any person known to be in the service of the UnitedStates and to persons of undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperatingin Government work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the pressexcept by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also par. 18b,AR 380-5, 28 Sep 1912.)

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY SERVICE FORCES, 11 DECEMBER 1943

3,:wi~: 4t 0

_

(~9

- I II - - -- I sl - I I -- I - --- - I ~

UVU


2/115

ARMY SERVICE FORCES MANUAL M 352-9Civil Affairs

CIVIL AFFAIRS HANDBOOK

FRANCESECTION 9: LABOR

REPRINT OF PRELIMINARY DRAFT, CIVIL AFFAIRS HANDBOOK ON FRANCE, SECTION 9

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY SERVICE FORCES,17 DECEMBER 1943

l. . . Dissemination of restricted matter. - The information con-tained in restricted documents and the essential characteristics of restrictedmaterial may be given to any person known to be in the service of the UnitedStates and to persons of undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperatingin Government work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the pressexcept by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also par. 18b,AR 380-5, 28 Sep 1942.)

III*- Il'i I --- -- - I - -- - I I


3/115

NUMBERING SYSTEM OFARMY SERVICE FORCES MANUALS

The main subject matter of each Army Service Forces Manual is indicatedby consecutive numbering within the following categories:

Ml - M99M100 - M199M200M300M400M500M600M700M800M900

- M299- M399- M499- M599- M69'9- M799- M899up

Basic and Advanced TrainingArmy Specialized Training Program and Pre-

Induction TrainingPersonnel and MoraleCivil AffairsSupply and TransportationFiscalProcurement and ProductionAdministrationMiscellaneousEquipment, Materiel, Housing and Construction

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY SERVICE FORCES,Washington 25, D. C., 17 December 1943.

Army Service Forces Manual M 352-9, Civil Affairs Handbook -- France:Section 9, Labor, has been prepared under the supervision of The Provost MarshalGeneral, and is published fo r th e information and guidance of all concerned.

[8PX 461 (11 Aug 43).3By command of Lieutenant General SOMERVELL:

W. D. STYER,Major General, General Staff Corps,

Chief of Staff.

OFFICIAL:J. A. ULIO,

Major General,Adjutant General. _ - 8 -

24-62086ABCO


4/115

C IVIL AFF AIR.S IIA D.1TO.FI G L IQI

1. Geographical and-Social Background2 * Government and Administration3. Legal,~Affairs

:,'4 Government Finance5. Money and Banking6. Natural Resources7. Agriculture8. Industry and Commerce9. Lamo10. Public Thrks and,,Utilities.11. Transportation systems12 . ComunicatLions13. Public Health and Sanitation.i:, Public. Saf'ety15. Education16. Public ;Welfare


5/115

INTRODUCTION

Purposes of the Civil Affairs Handbook.International Law places upon an occupying power the obligationand responsibility for establishing government and maintaining civilorder in the areas occupied.The basic purposes of civil affairs officers are thus (1) to as-sis t the Commanding General of the combat units -by quickly establishingthose orderly conditions which will contribute most effectively to the

conduct of military operations, (2) to reduce to a minimum the humnansuffering and the material damage resulting from disorder and (3) tocreate the conditions which will make it possible for civilian agenciesto function effectively.

The preparation of Civil Affairs Handbooks is a part of the effortof the War Department to carry out this obligation as efficiently andhumanely as is possible. The Handbooks do not deal with planning orpolicy. They are rather ready reference source books of the basicfactual information needed for planning and policy making.Revision for Final Publication.

Information on areas of potential occupation is immediately needed(a) for civil affairs officers charged with policy making and planning,(b) for the use of civil affairs officers-in-training and (c) to makecertain that this data is available at the time of occupation.

Arrangements were therefore made with the cooperating agencies toorganize all immediately available material in accordance with a pre-pared outline. This section on Labor in France is therefore a prelimi-nary draft.

Labor organizations had an important influence upon French governmentprior to the German occupation. They may again become an important factorfollowing the defeat of Germany. For these reasons, labor conditions andlabor organizations prior to German occupation are treated in some detail.

The final revision of this section will focus upon the more recent de-velopments in France with special reference to the disorganization of labor(both prisoners of war and conscripted labor) by Germany.

OFFICERS USING THIS MATERIAL ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ANDCRITICISMS INDICATING THE REVISIONS OR ADDITIONS WHICH WOULD MAKE THISMATERIAL MORE USEFUL FOR THEIR PURPOSES. THESE CRITICISMS SHOULD BE S1NTTO THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF THE SURVEY AND RESEARCH SECTION, MILITARYGOVERNMENT DIVISION, P.M.G.O., 2805 MUNITIONS BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.,(OR PHONE WAR DEPART ENT EXTENSION 76370).

24_.1600ABCD


6/115

LABOR CONDITIONS IN RLANCE

This report deals only with conditionsin ontinental France

CONTENTS1. DPLO!MENT AND UNE!PLOYUENT.. .3Pre.-war employmaent.. .3Reginaldistribution .0.3

Industrial distribution of population-.. 14frend of employment, 1930-1939. *,6Distribution by important industries and trades .. 96Foreign workers ...8Special groups of workers .. 89Unemployment, pro-war and war ...10Wartime employment conditions 60.132. !MflDT AGENCIES ,0 .1S3. WAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS ...7General trend of wages, 1929 to 1940 .0.17

Value and purchasing power of the franc ... 19Limitations on wage data ... 20Factors affecting wages ...21Family allowances ...21Vacations with pay ...23Social-insurance contributions ...23Pro-war wages by industry and occupationi ..oMetallurgical industry, Paris and Strasbourg districts ... 27Textile industry ..029Paper industry ... 33Pottery industry ... 34Glove industry . ..Dairy and cheese industries ... 35Perfumery and essential oils industry ... 3.Coal mining ...36Iron mines ...7Potash mines ...38Railroads *..38Subways, Paris ....39Street railways, Eavre ...39Shipping industry . 00Stevedoring industry ...1Building trades, Mlarseille ... IJA'


7/115

3. WAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS-Continued 2Wages after th e Armistice ... 142Actual wages during the occupation ...43Wage laws and regulations ... 44

[re-war regulation -e h4Regulation during th e war .. 46Regulation after th e Armistice ... 1t6

Hours of* labor ... 48Pre-war hours ...48Wartime hours .. .9Hours after th e German occupation ... 50Hours in coal mines ...51Overtime hours and rates of pay .. .5]

4. LABOR LEGISLATION AND LABOR POLICIES ... 5(a) Governmental administrative agencies ... 5Ministry of labor ...53

Labor inspection ...3(b) Labor laws and regulations, alphabetical list.. ..

5. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ... 65Pre-war developments..."6Membership in 1939 and 1940"..67Dissolution of labor unions after the Armistice...69

6. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS...70(a) Collective agreements .0.70(b) Strikes,..73(c) Conciliation and arbitration .. 76

Pre-war practice .. 76Wartime arbitration.. .77Developments after -the Armistice ... 78

7. COOPERATIVES . .79Pro-war situation 079Effect of the war on cooperatives ...82Important organizations in various branches of cooperation .. @

8. SOCIAL INSURANCE **.f39(a) Sickness, maternity, invalidity, old-age, and death

Commercial, Industrial and Domestic Workers ... 89Agricultural workers ...92Miners ... 9hSeamen ...96Railwaymen ... 100Public employees ...1Ol

(b) Unemployment relief and compensation ... 103Unemployment relief " .. O1Voluntary unemployment insurance .0.106

(c) Workmen' s compensation ...107

A selected list of references on Labor Conditions in France .. 110


8/115

1. LP0LDMNT AND UNEMPL0N T

Each successive 5-year census since 1921, when Alsace and Lorrainewere annexed to France, has ,shown -.downward trend in population growth.?rom 1931 to 1936 th e population increase was only 72,133 bringing th etotal to 41,907,056. Between 1926 and 1931 the rise was slightly morethan on e million while it amounted to one million and a half between1921 and 1926. Th e total urban population (towns of over 2,000 in-habitants) was 21,971,,698 and the rural 19,935,358 in 1936. Foreignersliving in France totaled 2,453,524 437,644 fewer than in 1931.

Pre-War &ipgoymentThe latest data regarding the industr ial distribution of th e totalpopula t ion are those contained in the 1931 General Census. A census

was again made in 1936 but at the t ime of the fall of France in 1940only part 1 of Volume I had been published and this covers only generalpopula t ion figures.

Of the total population of 41,834,923 in 1931, 21,611,835 or 52percent were gainfully occupied as compared with 40 percent in the UnitedStates as shown in the census of 1930. Forestry and agriculture inFrance accounted for 7,637,433 persons an d manufacturing 6,837,684.. Inocutrast, agriculture in the United States employed 10,752,909 personsout of a gainful population of 48,829,920 and industry employed 14,341,372.French managers and employers and persons working alone aggregated8,990,590 as compared with 9,665,540 in the United States where the pop-ulation was nearly three t imes as great. These figures emphasize thegreater importance of small-scale enterprise and independent work inFrance than in the United States. Industry employed fewer people thanagriculture but th e manufacture of automobiles, machinery, textile an dluxury goods was highly developed. Luxury goods produced in Francehave had a wide market especially in th e United States.

Regional Distribution

France has a number of coal mining districts, particularly in thenorthern section of the country, but under normal conditions was obligedto import coal for industrial use. The North is also the center of thegreat textile industry in and around Lille. Paris and its environs has,however, been th e preeminent center of industrial activity as wel l .sth e political seat of Government. As a, result of the concentration ofindustry in the region of Paris living costs and wages were higher thanin other sections of the country. Th e disparity in wages between Parisan d the provinces has always been very marked.

-up'*


9/115

Industrial Distribution of Population

The following table shows th e distribution of th e gainfully oc-cupied population in 1931 by nine employment groups.

Table l.-Gainfully occupied population in France in1931 by branch of activity and by sex.

Industry Gainfully employedor Total Male Female

Fishing 66,747 63,396 3,351Forestry and agriculture 7,637,433 4,447,051 3,190,382Mines and quarries 480,677 429,308 11,369Manufacturing 6,837,684 4,725,194 2,112,490Transportation and ware-

housing 1,069,356 934,746 134,610Commerce, banks, and theaters 2,695,390 1,538,172 1,157,218Liberal professions 657,757 332,641 325,116Personal service anddomestic servants 893,376 176,567 716,809

Public services 1,313,415 1,064,412 249,003Total 21,611,835 13,711,487 7,900,348

*I II ID~


10/115

Table 1.--Gainfully occupied population in France in 1931by branch of activity and by sex-Continued.

Personnel of establishmentsIndustry Mbanager Slreor or Salaried Wage eaners

Profession Employer Employeese Female Male emae ae Female

11,759 1,291 505 126 18,789 1,51and agriculture 3,262,758 2,303,017 4,823 1,058 1,543,364 576,96

and quarries 5,244 140 16,431 1,295 401,330 9,88522,064 188,067 347,368 191,43 3,221,360 1,196,23

and ware-housing 24,633 6,105 159,531 25,132 538,908 31,62

banks, and theaters 409,560 316,813 576,812 446,355 269,327 83,52professions 34,981 17,451 141,323 182,779 34,318 43,63

service anddomestic servants 21,415 11,271 31,313 12,617 79,786 665,77

services - - 679,934 206,270 384,478 42,73Total 3,392,423 2,844,155 1,958,040 1,066,845 6,491,660 2,651,88

Industryor

T) .. 4 -t

Unemployedworkers

Self-employedhome workers,

etc.Pro esion Male Female Male Female

Fishing 986 4 31,357 413Forestry and agriculture 20,356 3,547 515,750 305,799Mines and quarries 3,705 43 2,598 10Manufacturing 165,210 74,703 469,192 462,276Transportation and warehousing 71,892 13,950 139,782 57,797Commerce, banks, and theaters 31,171 17,317 251,293 293,211Liberal professions 10,867 15,360 111,152 65,887Personal service and domestic servants 3,954 19,730 40,099 7,396Public services

Total 308,141 144,674 1,561,223 1,192,789


11/115

Trend of Employment, 1930-1939Changes in employment are indicated by a series of index numbersissued by years beginning with 1930. The series is based on employ-

ment in a sample group of 2,363,000 wage earners and salaried employeesin mining, industry, transportation, and commerce, using 1930 as a baseof 100.Year Index1930 100.01931 92.51932 80.91933 79.41934 76.91935 73.51936 74.11937 78.61938 81.21939March 84.6

August 81.2Employment progressively declined from 1930 through 1935 when theindex was 73.5. With the enactment of the Popular Front laws in 1936employment improved slightly in the following year--index 74.1. ByMarch 1939 under the impetus of war production the index was 84.6. How-

ever, there was some deterioration in the employment situation.by Aug-ust 1939, just before the outbreak of war, when the index dropped to81.2. Later index numbers are not available.

Distribution by Important Industries and TradesIn 1931, 13,711,487, or 63.4 percent of the total gainfully occupied

workers were males and 7,900,348, or 36.6 percent, females. In the gen-eral population females formed over 52 percent of the total. No infor-mation is available on the number of employed children. Information isalso lacking on the distribution of the population by skills but table 2giving the distribution by industry and type of mining indicates that theparticular skills which have been developed are in the fields of metalwork and metallurgy, textiles, and construction. Ordinary metals andmetallurgy employed 1,682,450 in 1931 of whom all but 173,258 were males.Textiles and clothing together accounted for 1,908,983 workers. Femaleworkers exceeded males--1,383,450 females as compared with 525,533 malesThe 894,574 persons in the construction industry were almost exclusivelymales.

As noted above no data are available on occupational or industrialdistribution of the population for later years.


12/115

Table 2.-Distribution of Gainfuliy Occupied Mining andMinufacturing Personnel by sex, 1931

Group Total Male Female

Mines 367,867 358,018 9,849Quarries 67,143 65,734 1,4409Stone cutting 39,457 37,690 1,767Stone and brick work 220,179 184,938 35,241Foods 685,158 486,422 198,736Chemicals 273,078 203,538 69,540Paper 153,581 90,152 63,429Graphic industries 157,697 112,867 14,830Textiles 916,786 368,409 548,377Clothing 992,197 157,124 835,073Shoes 231,721 171,239 60,482Skins and leather 122,389 84,662 37,727Wood working 634,086 569,688 64,398Metallurgy 173,231 165,998 7,233Ordinary metals 1,509,219 1,343,194 166,025Fine metals, precious

stones 37,545 24,389 13,156Construction 894,574 882,723 11,851Miscellaneous 43,965 27,748 16,217

Total 7,519,873 5,334,533 2,185,340


13/115

Forein Kkez2,. 8The proportion of foreign workers who could be employed in France

was fixed by a law of August 10, 1932, but prior to that time variousrestrictions had been placed upon their employment. In 1926 a lawpassed for the protection of native workers against immigrant laborprohibited the employment of a foreigner without an identification cardbearing the word "worker." Employment of a foreign worker in any othertrade than that for which the identification card was secured was pro-hibited unless a year had elapsed since the card was issued or he hada card from the public employment office. Every employer of foreignworkers was required to enroll them on a special register within 24hours of their engagement and within 48 hours every foreign worker wasrequired to report to the police commissioner or mayor in order to re-ceive a regular identification card for which a tax had to be paid.A law of August 10, 1932, provided that the number of foreign workerswho could be employed in the public services could not exceed 5 per-cent of the total number of employees and the proportion who could beemployed in private industrial and commercial enterprises was to be fixedby decree, y occupation, by industry, by commerce or by occupationalclassification for the whole of a territory or region. All foreignersdesiring to enter France to work were required to have a ministerialauthorization, granted after consultation with the public employment ser-vices. The conditions under which so-called frontier and seasonalworkers living in another country but working in France could be em-ployed were also regulated. All the percentages fixed under the abovelaw which exceeded 10 percent of the total number of workers were sub-ject to revision by a decision of the Council of Ministers of November20, 1934. In order to reduce the number of employed alien workers itwas decided by the Government in November 1934 to refuse employment per-mits to new immigrant applicants, to examine closely every applicationfor renewal of an employment permit, and to include in every contractfor public works or supplies a provision that the contract must becarried out with French labor only.

A large number of decrees were issued between 1932 and 1938 fixingthe percentage of foreigners who could be employed in different indus-tries.

Of the total working population in 1931 (21,611,835) 1,599,224were foreigners. The number of foreigners working in France at the timeof the 1931 census are shown, by nationality and by sex, in the follow-ing table.


14/115

Table 3.--Number of Foreign WorkersNationality and Sex, 1931.

in France by

Country of origin Tota l Male Female

Austria, Hungary 16,929 13,455 3,474Belgium 156,870 116,920 39,950Czechoslovakia 30,932 25,096 5,836Germany 38,840 29,485 9,355Great Britain 18,803 12,423 6,380Greece, Roumania, Bulgaria 21,109 17,186 3,923Italy 475,006 383,066 91,940Luxemburg 11,939 7,770 4,169Poland 287,002 232,728 54,274Portugal 39,095 37,380 1,715Russia 47,721 39,431 8,290Spain 194,200 150,694 43,506Switzerland 60,846 46,056 14,790Turkey 20,396 15,041 5,355Yugoslavia 23,762 22,011 1,721Other European 12,969 9,771 3,198Africa, French subjects 98,153 97,791 362Other countries 44,652 35,959 8,693

Total 1,599,224 1,292,293 306,931

Italy normally furnished the largest group totaling 475,000 in1931, of whom 383,000 were males, working largely in the South. Thecontingent from Poland was 287,000, of whom nearly a fifth were women.Next in importance among the foreign workers were those from Spainand Belgium. Four-fifths of the foreign workers in France were malesaccording to the-1931 census returns.

Specia l Groups of WorkersIn peace times there was a considerable movement of Belgian workers

over the French borders daily consisting of men who lived in Belgium butworked in France. Similarly, in times of active business colonial workersfrom North Africa often migrated to France where they were employed andsent money to their families at home for their support.

france, like other countr ies that raise a large volume of agriculturalproducts, requires the services of extra workers during the seasons whenthe crops mature, for example in the vineyards.

:9\ ~


15/115

10

Unlike the situation in certain other western countries th eFrench tend to live on terms of equality with other racial groups.This is exemplified by the fact that, in North Africa the childrenof persons marrying French citizens become citizens themselvesupon coming of age, unless they declare other intentions.

Unemployment. Pre-War and WarThe effects of the world-wide depression were not felt in France

as early as in most of the industrialized countries. Statistics areunlikely to reflect the full volume of unemployment in a country inwhich there is no general unemployment insurance system and thereforeneither compulsory registration nor the opportunity to benefit fromregistration. This is the case in France where the only regularlyrecorded unemployment has been among those voluntarily registeringfor relief or with the employment exchanges in an effort to securework. Such statistics as are available show that in 1929 only 928unemployed persons were listed as on relief and in 1931, 56,112. Thefollowing table shows the number of unemployed receiving relief from1929 to May 1942 and the applications for work registered from 1929to November 1941. From July 1932 onwards the figures include unem-ployed in receipt of relief from the welfare offices.

fit


16/115

11Table 4.-Number of Unemployed and Applications for Work

in France, 1929 to May 1942.

Date Number of unemployed Applications foron relief work registered192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940

MarchSept.Oct.Nov.Dec.

1941Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.

1942Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.

9282,53456,112

273,412276,033345,033426,931431,397350,333,~75,4321/361,930

_/175,473000, 003.1,} 000 , 000

2'700,0002/ 650 0002/ 550,0002/ 460,0002/ 430,0002/ 350,0002/ 350,000260,000

240,000230,000207,000184,000185,000176,000166,000143,000126,000

1/ January to September and November./ January to August and November.Preliminary.

10,05213,85975,215

300,096307,844376,320465,875475,272379,095

2 404,60

223,7321,059,229

824,000676,000594,000534,391400, 000377,000326,000310,000254,000244,000223,000203,000


17/115

1?

Both the series on unemployment relief and applications for workincreased steadily each year from 1929 to 1936. In the latter yearthe average number of unemployed on relief was 426,931 and the applica-tions fo r work registered were 475,272. After the Popular Frontlawswere enacted in June 1936 unemployment began to decline and the averagesfor 1937 were 350,333 and 379,095, respectively. However, in 1938 thetrend of unemployment showed a slight rise followed by a small declinein the averages for the following year. Such statistics as are avail-able for 1940 show the adverse effect on employment of the fall ofFrance. Numbers on relief and registered were at a peak of one mil-lion in October. By January 1941 the totals had dropped by approxi-mately one-third. At the end of that year the numbers were in theneighborhood of 200,000. Relief figures only are available for theearly months of 1942. The unemployed in receipt of benefit droppedfrom 176,000 in January to 126,000 in April. Beginning in 1941 thereduction reflects the absorption of French labor by the German warmachine.


18/115

Wartime Employment ConditionsThe years since September 1, 1939, when war was declared, are

divided into three distinct periods, of which the first ended withthe fall of France in June 1940; the second in which the country wasdivided into an occupied and a nonoccupied zone ended at the closeof 1942 when the French fleet was scuttled; and the third period wasmarked by the complete occupation of the country by the Germans.

In view of the imminence of war a law was passed in July 1938providing fo r the requisitioning of both industry and labor in th eevent of war. The conditions under which the services of civilianscould be requisitioned, including both Frenchmen and the native pop-ulations of the French dependencies,were fixed by a decree of Novem-ber 28, 1938. By the decrees the worker lost his right to move freelyfrom job to job. General control of labor was placed in the hands ofthe Minister of Labor who had general charge of the occupational andgeographical allotment of the personnel between public and.private em-ploying services--military or civil, industrial, commercial, or agri-cultural-and the specific assignment of personnel to establishmentsand farms. A national committee made up of representatives of allthe ministries was set up under the Minister of Labor to centralizeinformation relative to the needs of the different services and toapportion the available labor among the respective employers.

As France placed a high proportion of the adult male populationunder arms when the war started it became increasingly difficult toman war industries. A recent statement of Pierre Cot, former Min-ister of Aviation, attributes France's defeat to the unduly high per-centage of men in the fighting forces with an insufficient civilianstaff to supply them with planes and other war materials. As th elabor supply problem grew worse the Government used its power to re-call mobilized men who were indispensable on war work because of theirtechnical qualifications. There were also instances where men weregiven furloughs to harvest their crops.

A law promulgated in Vichy, France, on September 4, 1942, providedthat all male citizens residing in France between the ages of 18 and50 years, and all unmarried women between the ages of 21 and 35, whoare shown by a medical examination to be physically fit, may be requiredto carry out any work judged by the Government to be in the higher in-terests of the nation. All heads of enterprises are required to con-form to instructions received by them from the competent Secretaries ofState regarding the constitution of crews of workmen. In order to in-sure the stability of the personnel, no workmen may be dismissed or laborcontracts canceled in industrial and commerical enterprises without th eauthorization of the labor-inspection service, and no one may be hiredwithout such authorization. These measures were to be put into effectby orders of the competent ministries, for a whole territory, for aregion, or for a determined locality, in the branches of industry andcommerce or the professions to which they apply. Orders by these


19/115

W 14

authorities will govern the conditions of labor of the personnel andthe obligations of the heads of enterprises. Labor inspectors andofficers of the police courts will be in charge of the enforcement ofthe provisions regarding the hiring and discharge of workers.

Every able-bodied Frenchman between the ages of 18 and 50 must beable to justify his employment as useful to the interests of the country;if he cannot do so he will be required to take work designated by theservices of the Secretariat of State for Labor. In order to directworkers toward the occupations which lack workers, a technical and oc-cupational organization must be established by employers, under termsspecified by an official order. Any person who infringes the law or themeasures taken to put it in effect will be subject to fine and impris-onment. Foreigners residing in France may be subject to similar meas-ures to be prescribed by the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairsand for Labor.

After the defeat, when Germany undertook to preserve a semblanceof independence in the unoccupied zone, French labor was recruited forGerman industry. Inducements were offered workers who would volunteerfor employment in Germany, such as promised release of a certain numberof war prisoners for a fixed number of labor volunteers.

There are no reliable data on the number of French workers whoeither voluntarily or under compulsion had gone to work in Germany. Itwas reported from Berlin in November 1941 that the departure of th e100,000th French worker to take employment in Germany was celebrated onNovember 20th but the Paris radio reported in the middle of December1942, according to the New York Times, that the 100,000th French workerhad just left for Germany. This report was discounted by the FightingFrench, who said their information showed that not more than 90,000Frenchmen had been sent and that the majority of those had been sentforcibly instead of voluntarily as had been stated.

Once the military occupation was extended to unoccupied France thevoluntary principle was abandoned and women as well as men were undercompulsion to work in German plants. Information is lacking as tothe extent of the labor shortage in France but it is known that Germanyis faced with the need of bolstering its working force and that laborin the conquered countries is being depleted.

With a view to the enforcement of the order by the German Directorof Manpower that "the foreign manpower of the occupied territories shall,like the German workers, observe the strictest labor discipline," theGerman Military Commander in Paris introduced Nazi wartime labor legis-lation in the occupied zone of France. As from September 1, 1942 noFrench worker employed in a German-owned factory or in a French factoryworking fo r the German army under German supervision could refuse to per-form work allocated to him or to work overtime, nights, or Sundays. Slowwork, absenteeism, frequent tardiness, insolence towards superiors, etc.,were punishable with imprisonment and fine without limit.


20/115

'J15

2. EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

France's public employment agencies were placed in operation bylegislation adopted March 14, 1904. Economic disturbances of the 1930'sincreased the importance of these offices. An act of February 2, 1925made it mandatory for cities of more than 10,000 inhabitants to estab-lish free labor exchanges and in addition to the municipal offices theFrench Government maintains offices in the various Departments. Advis-ory councils were created by the same law "to control and advise upon thework of the public employment agencies throughout the country," both de-partmental and municipal. Equal numbers of employers and employees wereincluded in the membership in these councils. Members of municipal coun-cils were appointed by the mayor and the prefects appointed members to thedepartmental councils.

Legislation governing private employment exchanges was enacted longbefore the public employment system was established in France. Privateemployment agencies operating on a commercial basis were placed under su-pervision by a decree of March 25, 1852. Although they were under policecontrol, the methods used and the fees exacted were such that there wasgeneral agitation for abolishing them. Under the laws of March 14, 1904and December 28, 1910 provision was made for the suppression of fee-charg-ing agencies upon payment of just indemnity. The law permitted a maximumfee of 60 francs to be collected from employers, but no fee could be chargedworkers. These offices had their advisory groups which were subordinate tothe larger departmental or municipal bodies. Before the war the advisory-council system was regarded as of the greatest value in the operation ofthe public employment offices as they did much to allay the too easy suspi-cion that the public system was bureaucratic.

The system was diversified to a great extent and special placementmachinery was established for a large number of specific occupations, in-dustries, and professions. By a law. f July 19, 1928 employers in certainbranches of commerce were forbidden to establish placement offices in theirplaces of business.

The 1928 law also established regulations as to the records to bekept by both public and private agencies and laid down principles for therecruitment of colonial and foreign labor. Authorization was requiredfrom the appropriate governmental agency for placing such labor, for ex-ample, from the Minister of Labor for industrial workers and from the Min-ister of Agriculture for agricultural labor. Centralization of the employ-ment offices was carried out under a decree of March 20, 1939, which madethe departmental offices subject to the direct authority of the Ministryof Labor.


21/115

After war was declared decrees regulating the hiring and firing ofworkers were issued (September 1 and 26, 1939), the first decree provid-ing that the municipal offices and the free employment offices (establishedby professional syndicates of workers, or employers, or both), the laborexchanges, trade-unions, mutual-aid societies and all other legally con-stituted associations, and the authorized fee-charging gencies were underthe jurisdiction of the labor inspectors and the departmental labor-mobil-ization services. The Minister of Labor was empowered to close privateexchanges which did not conform to the regulations. All private employ-ment offices which were operating regularly at the time of publication ofthe decree were required to notify the divisional labor inspector, withinthe 15 days of their intention to continue their operations, but no suchoffices might be opened after that time, nor could the existing officesextend their activities without authorization by the Minister of Labor.These regulations did not apply to employment offices fo r agricultural la-borers. The trades or occupations for which all hiring must be done throughthe public employment offices, and those for which all hiring and firingmust be reported to those offices were established by orders of the Ministerof Labor.

All establishments which were required to hire through the publicemployment exchanges were forbidden to post notices in any place, showingtheir need fo r workers, and other establishments could post such notices onlyat the entrance of the establishment. Advertisements fo r labor in the pressor through other means of publicity were forbidden unless authorized bythe labor inspector.

The September 26 decree prohibited all recruitment of personnel inadministrative agencies, services and establishments of the State exceptin accord with the advice of the accounting officer of the Ministry cov-ered. Employees in the administrative services of Departments, and th ecommunes of over 20,000 inhabitants, offices of the housing administrationand welfare institutions, subsidized wartime navigation, and air transpor-tation companies and various concessions were also covered. A Vichy de-cree of October 11, 1940 abolished the existing departmental and municipalexchanges and substituted a state system of employment offices organisedon a regional basis. This decree was implemented by a decree of December31, 1941.

Placements made by the public employment offices totaled a millionand a half in 1924 and again in 1929. After that year there was a gradualdecline to 1,150,000 in 1934; and approximately 1,200,000 in each of thethree following years.


22/115

3. YAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS

General Trend of Wages, 1929 to 1940

Wages in France before the war were low in comparison withthose of Great Britain, Sweden, and Germany and particularly theUnited States. Even within France there had always been a greatdifference between the wages paid in Paris and its environs andcities in other parts of France as is shown in table 1, coveringaverage hourly wage rates of adult males in manufacturing indus-tries from October 1929 to October 1940. These statistics aretaken from the annual wage study made in October each year by theGeneral Statistical Bureau.

Table 1.--Average Hourly Wages of AdultMales in Manufacturing Industries, October1929-October 1940.

Paris CitiesPeriod recrion other then

Francs Francs

1929 6.10 3.831930 6.64 4.081931 6.61 4.081932 6.34 3.991933 6.34 3.891934 6.34 3.891935 6.23 3.301936 7.06 4.421937 10.06 5.601938 10..50 6.191939 V1940 10.90 6.34

Wages of street railway employees, truckdrivers~and laborers are included.

/ Not available.


23/115

Wage rates remained substantially without change for 1929 to1936, when the social laws enacted by the Popular Front Governmentin June 1936 resulted in a general upward movement of wages. Thelaws particularly affecting the wage structure were the law estab-lishing the 40-hour week, which provided that there should be no re-duction in the remuneration of the workers in industries in whichthe 48-hour week had been in effect either in wages or in other pay-ments as a result of the reduction in hours, and the law on collec-tive agreements which provided for the establishment of minimum wagesby classes and by regions. The minimum salaries and pensions ofemployees and agents of the public services, State, Departments,communes and similar services were increased by the law of June 20,1936, and decrees passed in 1934 and 1935, which provided for deduc-tions from the salaries of employees, reduced special allowances,and postponed the regular promotions of civil servants, were re-pealed.


24/115

Value and Purchasing Power of the Franc

For many years prior to the First World War the par value of theFrench franc (i. e., its value in United States currency) was 19.30cents. This was the same as the par value in U. S. currency of theprincipal currency units of the other members of the monetary union,including the Belgian and Swiss franc and the Italian lira.

After the First World War the French franc underwent a long seriesof revaluations which greatly changed its exchange value in terms ofUnited States currency, which itself was affected relatively to othercountries by the reduction of the gold content of the dollar in 1934.

In 1934 the exchange value of the French franc in United Statescurrency was 6.56 cents. There was little change in 1935 and 1936,but in 1937 there was a drop to 4.04 cents, and thereafter the declinewas still sharper, the exchange value being only 2.08 cents in 1940,the latest year for which quotations have been made by the FederalReserve Board.

In other words, the exchange value of the French franc in 1940was only about one-third what it was in 1934 to 1936. This does notmean, however, that there was a corresponding drop in the purchasingvalue of the franc in France and thus in the "real" wage of the Frenchworker. According to figures presented in the 1941 ILO Yearbook ofLabor Statistics the cost-of-living index for Paris (on a base of1929=100) was 93 in 1934, but rose to 111 in 1937 and to 126 in 1938.However, as the wage rates rose still more rapidly over these years,as shown in table 1 above, there was a net gain in the hourly "real"wage of about 30 percent. On the other hand, because of the reduc-tion in weekly hours, as a result of the 40-hour week law, the weekly"real" wage in 1938 was just about what it was in 1934.

Cost of living in wartime.--Information is very unsatisfactoryregarding the trend of cost of living in France after the entry of thatcountry into the war and still more during the period of German occupa-tion. Figures assembled by the League of Nations in its World EconomicSurvey of 1941/42 (p. 149) but recognized as unreliable show that therewas a rapid rise in living costs after 1939, the indexes (on a 1939base of 100) being 142 in June 1941 and 150 in 1942. As money wagesdid not rise during this period, it is evident that real wages suffereda decline of at least 20 percent as compared with 1938 and probablyconsiderably more.

^^^ ^--^


25/115

Limitations on Wage Data

The wage rates cited in the preceding table and in most of theofficial French reports are, as a rule, the minimum rates providedby collective agreements. It is impossible to ascertain how farthese minima varied from the actual wages paid. While the minimumrates were strictly followed in many cases, undoubtedly higher wagesare often paid to many employees.

National wage scales rarely existed in pre-war France, and pro-bably this is still the case. Hence the rates given apply only to theregion indicated, and a different scale might exist in the same indus-try in another part of France. As a general rule, wages were on anhourly basis, but there were exceptions, notably on the railways, wherethe basis was annual.


26/115

21Factors Affecting Wages

The actual value of pre-war French wages to the worker was in-creased by the existence of family allowances, by the granting ofpaid vacations, and by a system of social insurance..

Family AllowancesUnder the law of March 11, 1932, which first went into effect

October 1, 1933, and was gradually extended in the scope of its applica-tion, family allowances were paid to heads of families for each dependentchild under 14, and in some cases, for children up to 16 years of age.The minimum payments fixed by decree varied widely in different partsof France, being highest in Paris, and less than half that amount insome Departments. The payments increased in size with the number ofdependent children. The purpose of this law was to stimulate thebirth rate. This system started in industry and commerce, and in-cluded many classes of agricultural workers. The funds from whichfamily allowances were paid were contributed entirely by the employers,except in the case of certain agricultural workers. Contributions tothe fund were payable for each employee, male or female, married orsingle, and were based either on the number of employees or on thetotal wage. Usually contributions were adjusted quarterly in orderto make the payments required by law. Consequently contributionsvaried according to industry and locality, but in general were es-timated at about 2 to 5 percent of the pay roll. During the winterof 1938 family allowance rates were revised upwards in many Depart-ments, and such saales are shown in table 2. In general the mini-mum rates were followed, but in some cases a higher rate was fixedby the collective agreement in a particular industry.


27/115

Table 2. --Minimum Family Allowance Rates in France,.Prescribed by Ministerial Orders

22

1 child 2 children 3 childrenDepartment per per per per per per

day month day month day month

Commerce and industry Francs Francs Francs Francs Francs FrancsAube------------------------- 2.00 50.00 4.80 120.00 8.40 210.00Seine (Paris), Seine, and Oise - 2.4.0 60.00 6.40 160.00 12.40 310.00Oise (except Creil, Rieux,and Erouis) --- - -- 1.75 44.00 4.55 114.00 8.30 208.00Oise (Creil, Rieux, and Erouls),Seine, and Marne ----- ----- 2.20 55.00 5.40 135.00 10.00 250.00Allier, Ardeche, Drome, Indre,Loir and Cher, Loir Inf.,

Pas-de-Calais, and Vosges --- 1.60 40.00 4.00 100.00 7.20 180.00Lozere, Orm------------------ 1.20 30.00 3.00 75.00 5.00 125.00Agriculture

Aube --------------------- 1.00 25.00 2.40 60.00 4.40 110.00Indre et Loire-------------- .70 17.50 1.60 40.00 3.00 75.00

Department

Commerce and industryAube ------------------Seine (Paris), Seine, and Oise-Oise (except Creil, Rieux,

and Erouis) ------------Oise (Creil, Rieux, and Erouis),Seine, and Marne -----------Allier, Ardeche, Dr'ome, Indre,Loir and Cher, Loir Inf.,

Pas-de-Calais, and Vosges--Lozere, Orn --------------------

AgricultureAube ------------ - _Indre et Loire --------------

4 children 5 children Each addi-tional childabove the

fifth


28/115

Vacations with Pay

The law of June 20, 1936, granted annual paid vacations to all em-ployees in industry, commerce, the liberal professions, domestic service,and agriculture. The minimum vacation was 15 days, including 12 workingdays, for every employee who had had 12 months' continuous service withthe same employer. Those who had not had 12, but had had at least 6months' service, were entitled to 1 week of vacation with pay. In somecollective agreements, e.g., that of the Paris metal workers, it was pro-vided that vacations should be granted on the basis of 1 day for eachmonth's work. It was usual for collective agreements to specify the va-cation period as falling within certsin summer months. This measure addedabout 4 percent to wage costs.

Social-Insurance Contributions

The compulsory social-insurance contribution for all employees inindustry and commerce, having an annual wage of not over 30,000 francsand not covered by a separate system, was 8 percent of the wage, half ofwhich was paid by the employer and half by the employee. However, con-tributions were not payable on that part of the wage which was in excessof 13,000 francs.

Flat rates were paid for agricultural workers who were divided intofour classes, the annual premium ranging from 4l francs to 360 francsdivided equally between employer and worker.

For mine workers, contributions for both old-age and sickness insur-ance amounted to 14.5 percent of the wage, half of which was paid by theemployee and half by the employer. However, contributions were not pay-able on that part of the wage which was in excess of 15,000 francsannually.

For old-age and invalidity insurance, railwaymen contributed 5 per-cent of their wages, the entire wage of the first month after permanentaffiliation, and one-twelfth of any increase in annual wages. They madeno contribution for sickness insurance.

The social-insurance contribution of seamen amounted to 16.3 percentof the wage, of which 6.95 percent was paid by the employee and 9.35 per-cent by the employer.


29/115

Pre-War Wages by Industry and Occupation

The following table shows the wage rates of a number of occupationsin Paris and in cities outside Paris, for the years 1935, 1936, 1937,and 1938. The 1935 data are for the period just before the enactmentof the 40-hour law, with consequent sharp increases in hourly wage rates.


30/115

Table 3.--Average hourly wages in -

Occupation Paris and its environs1935 1936 1937 1938

Males Francs Francs Francs FrancsAverage 6.23 7.06 10.06 10.50

Printers, compositors 6.15 7.25 10.50 11.90Bookbinders 5.05 6.75 10.50 11.90Tailors 5.50 6.38 8.49 8.49Wood turners 6.25 7.50 9.10 9,80Cabinetmakers 5.87 6.5d 9.40 10.10Pit sawyers - 6.50Carpenters 5.87 6.50 9.65 9.85Joiners 5.87 6.75 9.65, 9.85Plumbers 6.25 7.25 10.28 10.45Blacksmiths 6.10 7.50 10.50 11.70Locksmiths 6.00 'p.25 9.65 9.85Metal turners '6.05 7.20 10.35 11.90Electrical fitters 6.00 6.80 9.70 9.91Watchmakers - - -Quarrymen 6.25 6.50 - 8.55Stonecutters 9.25 9.25 12.10 12.85Masons 6.37 7.00 10.60 10.15Navvies (terrasiers) 6.25 6.50 9.55 9.55Roofers 6.25 7.25 10.28 10.45House painters 6.00 7.00 9.65 9.85Ornametal-stone cutters 7.12 7.67 11.05 11.35Brickmakers - - - -Glaziers 6.12 7.00 - 11.45.

Cities other than ParisMales

Average

BrewersPrinters, compositorsBookbindersTannersSaddlers, harness makersShoemakersTailorsDyers, cleanersWeaversRope makersWheelwrights

1935iFrancs3.80

3.394.244.133.493.423,403.843.562.903.333.72

Francs4.424.024.704.56

4.064.203.95

4.424.123.62

3.924.33

Francs5.605.176.095,995.124.964.855.435.154.634.955.40

1938Francs

5.546.87.6.845.865.485.455.875.565.135. 15.96

~-ImE.


31/115

Table 3.--Average hourly wages in - Cont'd

Occupation Cities other than Paris1935 1936 1937 1938

Males FranCs FranCs Francs francsWood turners 3.94 4.57 5.72 6.37Coopers 3.75 4.34 5.45 5.90Cabinetmakers 3.97 4.55 5.79 642Upholsterers 4.00 4.60 5.6 6,32Pit sawyers 3.78 4.41 5.29 6.04Carpenters 4.02 4.63 5.84 6,44Joiners 3.88 4.53 5.76 6.35Coppersmiths 4.16 4.81 6.14 6.90Tinsaiths 3.83 4.53 5.76 6.28Plumbers 3.96 4.63 5.91 6.41Blacksmiths 3.89 4.57 5.84 6.59Farriers 3.74 4.32 5,45 6,08Stovemakers 3.83 4.53 5.78 6.35Locksmiths 3.77 4.48 5.78 6,35Fitters 4.01 4.74 6.11 6.88Metal turners 4.03 4.84 6.14 6.92Electrical fitters 4.03 4.77 5.94 6.56Watchmakers 4.26 4.83 6.00 6.56Quarrymen 3.58 4.16 5.37 5.93Stonecutters 4.16 4.84 6.05 6.72Masons 3.92 4.59 5.85 6.43Navvies (terrasiers) 3.31 3.96 5.1 5.67Roofers 4.02 4.63 5.95 6.50House painters 3.83 4.48 5.77 6.33Ornamental-stone cutters 4.95 5.50 6,85 7.78Brickmlakers 3.48 410 .5.06 5.72Potters 3.56 4.52 5.25 6.01Glaziers 3.88 4.47 5.75 6.34Motormen, tramways 3.98 4.46 5.67 6.20Conductors, tramways 3.86 4.10 5.40 5.91Truck drivers 3.83 4.44 5.78 6.15Laborers 2.87 3.46 444 4.92

FemalesAverage 2.26 2.62 3.08 3.42Ironers 2.33 2.63 3.10 3.36Dressmakers 2.33 2.67 3.09 3.40Seamstresses 2.15 2.53 2.97 3.30Waist coat makers 2.33 2.71 3.24 3.59Lace makers 2.27 2.63 3.09 3.55Fnbroiderers 2.19 2.62 3.04 3.42M illiners 2.20 2.58 3.05 3.31


32/115

27Little data are available fo r wages in individual industries

for France as a whole. But a report prepared by the U. S. Bureauof Labor Statistics in 1939 gives detailed wage rates for a numberof important industries in representative sections of the country.Abstracts from this report are given below. These-rates relatefor the most part to 1938, the year previous to the entry of Franceinto the war.

Metallurgical IndustryParis district.-The minimum guaranteed hourly wages of metal

workers in the Paris district as fixed in the collective agreementof May 2, 1938, are shown in table 4. Hours worked above the 40per week provided by law were paid for at the rate of time and one-quarter for the first 2 hours, time and one-third for additionalhours, and time and one-half fo r night work, Sunday, and holidays.Other extra payments included a meal allowance of 8 francs for nightshifts, bus or car fare of 2 francs fo r the second day shift, ahalf-hour rest period paid for at the full rate for workers on con-tinuous shifts, paid vacations between June 1 and October 15 at therate of 1 day per month of work, and family allowances prescribed bylaw.

"$=W%


33/115

28Table 4. -Hourly Wages in the Metal Industry, Paris

Region, May 1938, by Occupation

OccuptionHourlyOccuptionrateFrancsBoiler smiths, formers, and sheet-iron formers ---------- 11.86

Skilled tool workers--tracers, engravers,millers, fitters--------------------------------------- 11.55

Adjusters----------------------------_#--- ------- 11.21Ironsmiths, hand --------------------- --- - - 11.21Machine manufacture-turners, millers, rectifiers,

borers, mortisers, planers ------------------------. _ 10.82Welders -------------------------------------- 10.82Sheet-iron makers--------------------------- ~ 10.82Fitters-------------------------------- ---- _- -- 10.56"Clockmakers--------------------------------------------- 10.56M echan ics--setters -----..------------------------ 10.56Electricians ------------------------------ -----. 10.30Locksmiths ----------------------------------------------- 10.18Plu m bers-------------------------------------------------- 9.91Carpenters --------------------------- ----- 9.79Skilled machine workers:

Male---------------------------9.53Female ------------------ _ _-_-_- 8.15

Boi ler stokers _------------- -- -------- 9.47Skilled assemblers:Male ---------------- ---- a------ -------- 9.*34Female --------------------------------- 7.62Warehousemen -- - ------_____________---__9.21Laborers, heavy work----------------------------- 8.38Ordinary laborers:Male -------------- ____.__--------- - --- 7.86Female -- ------------------------- - 6.78


34/115

29

Strasbourg district. --The minimum daily wages of metal workers inthis district as fixed by the collective agreement of April 2, 1938, forthe entire metallurgical industry were as follows: Skilled workmen,including machinists, designers, pattern makers, molders, foundrymen,boilermakers, ladlemen, and blacksmiths, received from 39.75 to 43.42francs per day. The highest rate was provided for workmen over 25 yearsof age with a minimum of 7 years' experience and qualifying as masterworkmen. The rate for specialized laborers, not apprenticed, operatorsof machines, helpers, and drivers ranged from 36.69 to 40.36 francs.Laborers doing heavy work were to receive 35.47 francs; and ordinarylaborers, 35.02 francs. The rate for boys between the ages of 14 and18 ranged from 12.23 to 22.01 francs, and those from 17 to 18 years whohad finished their apprenticeship were to receive 26.91 francs per day.The rate for girls between the ages of 14 and 18 ranged from 9.17 to16.51 francs. The rate for apprentices was set at 8.44 francs per dayfor the first half year, 9.17 francs for the second half year, 12.23francs for the second year, and 18.35 francs for the third year.

The wages actually paid after February 17, 1938, in different lo-calities in th e Departments of Moselle an d M eurthe-et-Moselle in certainbranches of the metallurgical industry are shown in table 5.

Table 5. --Daily Wages in the Iron and Steel Industry inth e Departments of Moselle and Meurthe-

et-Moselle, February 1938

Occupation Blast Steel Rollingfurnaces mills mills

Skilled workers: Francs Francs FrancsFirst class 62.15-74.24 59.34-71.60 60.90-70.25Second class 58.70-62.45 52.66-67.20 59.25-64.56Third class 55.40-59.62 50.00-60.98 56.58-57.58

Specialized workers:First class 51.99-61.08 52.50-56.13 53.26-55.20Second class 48.53-57.95 50.40-53.36 52.98-54.72Third class 45.60-51.05 47.68-54.05 47.45-50.96

Classified laborers 49.47-62.10 46.80-50.80 45.45-57.54Ordinary laborers 43.60-49.00 37.60-44.10 39.51-42.65

Textile industryTable 6 gives th e average hourly wages in certain occupations in

specified districts and branches of the textile industry in the Lilledistrict, effective in May 1938.


35/115

30In general, overtime work was not encouraged; but in case of rush

work time and one-quarter was paid in the silk and rayon mills in theLyon district, while a 10-percent increase was paid for overtime in thevelvet mills. Family allowances in this district ranged from 50 francsfor one child to 320 francs for four children, and for each additionalchild above the fourth, 150 francs was to be paid. In the silk andrayon industry a lower rate was paid if both husband and wife worked.The cost of vacations with pay in this district was estimated at about4 percent of the annual pay roll.

'-ml


36/115

31Table 6. --Average Hourly Wages in the Textile Industry

of' Specified Districts in France, May 1938Lille District

Process, occupation,"and sex Avrate hulCotton and linen weaving

Weaving:Winders: FrancsLinen, male-------------------------------- 3.91Cotton, male---------------------3.75Apprentice, male------------------- ------- 2.23Warpers, male----------------------------------4.25Wavers:Ordinary looms, male---------------------3.97-5.15Multiple looms, male----------------------4.141-7.00

Thread spinningWinding:Wiinders, linen, female------------------------ 3.53

Assemblers, female---------------------------- 3.64Cleaners, pickers, female ---------------------- 3.51Twisters:Heavy looms, female ------------------------- 3.66Light looms, female ------------------------- 3.67Reelers, female------------------------------- 3.38Finishing:Winders:Automatic machines, female ------------------ 3.54Hand looms, fem ale--------------------------3.32Hand, female ------------------------------- 4.68Widrsinthefmae-------37

Cotton spinning millsCoarse yarn:Carders, doffers, male---------- --------- 4.51Winders, male--------------------------------- 4.56Card fixers, male----------------------------- 4.31

Scthrmale------------ ------------------- 5.02Spinners, male------------------------------- 1/ .08Carders, male ----------- --------------- 4.00Combers, female--------------------- ------------ / 3.58

Drawers, female---------------- - 3.35Rovers, male---------------------------- 3.39Laborers, male-------------------------------- 4.28Medium and fine counts:Spinners:Male----------------------- --------------- 5.64B~eginners, male---------------------------- 1.71Reelers e

Femalo ------------------- ----------------- 2.62Beginners, female -------------------------- 1.58Carders,. female------------------- 3.24Combers, fem ale------------------ ------------ 3.41Drawers, fem ale------------------ ------------ 3.30Rovers, fem ale------------------------------- 3.38Ring spinners, female ----------- 3.44Winders, female------------------------------ 3.32

Knitting millsWinders, runners-on (fine gauge), female - 4.34Runners-on (coarse gauge),. female ----------------- 4.27Linkers, female------------------------------- 4.27-4.55Sewing-machine operators, female ----------------- 4.41Runners-on, female------------------------------ 4.55Trimmers, female ---------------------- 4.41.Rib top runners-on, female ------------------------ 4.13Runners-on, male ---------- ------------ 4.45Footers, male ------------- 6.56Laborers, male ------ _______4.87

,/Piece rate.


37/115

32

Table 6. --Average Hourly Wages in the Textile Industryof Specified Districts, in France, May 1938

-Continued-

Lyon District

Average hourly rates,April 1938 2/

Process, occupation, and sexSilk and Velvetrayon

Silk an d rayon and velvetFrancs Francs

Wlinders, female--------------------3.70 4.25-4.50Reelers, female-------------------3.70 4.25-4.50Warpers, female----------------- -4.50 4.75-5.00Weavers:

Male------------------ 4.70Female-- ------------ 4.40 4.75-5,00

Loom fitters, male--------------- 2/1,34400Loom fitters' apprentices, male 4.00-5.75 ----Finishers:

ale---- le------------- 7.00 5.50-6.50Female------------------------ -------- 4.25-4.75

Dyers, male------------------- 8.15 8.15Printers, male--------------- 9.00 ----Laborers, weaving, m ale---------- 5.50 ------

/ Average exchange rate of franc in April 1938 = 3.10 cents./ Per month.

Dyeing

The minimum hourly rate of assistant machine operators and labor-ers in dyeing plants was 5.88 francs; dyers, operators of washing andrinsing machines, shrinking, stretching, and drying machines, etc.,were to receive a minimum wage of 6.25 francs; and head operators ofmachines, inspectors, finishers, folders, etc., a minimum rate of 6.61francs. The minimum hourly rate of women was 4.31 francs for folding-machine operators, and operators of sprinkling an d vaporizing machines .


38/115

Paper Industry

The minimum basic hourly wage scale as of May 15, 1938, in thepaper industry in the region of Paris is shown for different plantdepartments in table 7.

Table 7.-Minimum Hourly Wages in Paper IndustryParis Region, May 1938, by Occupation

Occupation

Pulpp eparationHead operators'Operators

2 lAssistant operatorsVat loaders and assistantsOperators, newsprint machinesSecond operators, newsprint machinesGrinders, crushersfag washersChlorine workersFelt washers, fullersColorers

Machine Room

Machine operaiors.First driers=Second drierSecond drier-unwinderAssistant drierChief winderWSecond winde4Third winderc/

Finihig RoomSupervisorsWinders, calender operators, cuttersWinding machine helpersCardboard spindle cutters:

MaleFemale

Handlers, weighers

Minimum hourly ratee/

Fancs8.35-9.607.90-9,407.45-8.35.

4.55.8,658.35

7.,357.85

9.,26-11.758.00-11.;75.5.057,30:

7.95,

/ Including bonuses and payments in kind.2/ Rates vary according to speed of machine.2/ Receive 2 liters of milk.!/ n winding machine attache.. Nine.

.33

9.10.7.58.3.5

7.45.5.407., 5

-- ---- ---- ;-- . ----- .- . . ..... ..... -: . -. _.~~i-: ....--- .. _-,-.. -;.,--

-- --- -- ---- : ----. ..:. --


39/115

34Wages of power-plant employees ranged from 9.80 francs per hour

for ,chief firemen to 7.50 francs fo r inspectors of water turbines,steam engines,, and stations for pumping and treating water, whilewages of'-maintenance employees ranged from 11.75 francs fo r skilledcabinetmakers and 10.10 francs for tool experts to 7 francs for stockkeepers. The ..ages of young workers varied from 3.60 francs per hourfo r boys of 14 to 15 years of age to 6.75. rancs fo r those l79 to 18years, while the corresponding rates for girls were 2.95 to 4.90 francs.

Pottery IndustryIn the pottery industry in the vicinity of Cherbourg the maximum

daily wage's of skilled workmen--turners and painters--were 40.30 and46.20 francs,,7respectively, in May 1938. The minimum rates of special-ized workmnen were 27 francs per day and the maximum rates ranged from31.90 francs for: .grpovers o 38.20 francs fo r paste pattern makers.The minimum rates..of women in this group were 17 and 18 francs and themaximum rates ranged from 22.40 francs for enamel repairers to 34.90francs for trimmers. Repairers working on piece work, however, mayaverage as much as 37.45 francs per day. The daily wages of ordinaryand specialized laborers ranged from 27 to 32.80 francs per day. En-gineers received, from 1,000 to 1,440 francs per month. The rate forfiremen on the day shift was 37.45 francs per day, with a special al-lowance of.' 24 francs a month and 4.70 francs per hour fo r overtime,while on night work the rate was 40.70 francs with a food allowance of6 francs.; The first year rate for boys between the ages of 14 and 18was 12 francs per day and for girls, 10 francs.

Glove IndustryThe hourly wages paid in the glove industry in the Grenoble dis-trict 1n Ajr' l 1938 are shown in the following stcatement. Overtimerates were. time and one-quarter for tbe first 2 hours and time and one-half thereafter. Family allowances ranged from 50 francs per monthfor one child to 470 francs for five children and 150 francs for eachadditional; child above the fifth. One day's vacation with pay wasgranted fQrI' each month worked during the year. No housing was provided.

Rate per hour (francs)a,'ers$~eeCeaAIB""Bee~eIIIIBII*~ee 6,30Skin dyers. . .................. 10.30Skin stakers. .. ,.."......... 10.70Glove butters. . ...... . . .. .. .. ... 6.50Glove dreesel"rs....... s..... 5.25Sewers, acine,,.,........" 2.50"ewers,~~r~l hand,,,,, ,b , o , .o e lbo e 2.25


40/115

35Dairy and Cheese Industries

The minimum monthly wages of workmen employed in dairies andcheese factories in the Cherbourg district in May 1938 averaged 765francs for ordinary laborers, including milk handlers, assistant but-ter makers, apprentice molders, milk collectors, etc.; 815 to 820francs for specialized laborers including molders and cheese turners,weighmen, mechanical mixers, warehousemen, skinners, churners, mech-anics etc.; and 870 francs for specialized workmen, including specialcondensed-milk workers, testing and laboratory workers, skilled butterand cheese workers, butter sorters, foremen, etc. The wages of womenranged from 520 to 570 francs per month fo r occupations classed aslaborers; 570 to 620 francs for specialized laborers; and 620 to 670francs for specialized workers. Apprentices (boys under 20 years ofage) earned from 312 to 566 francs, according to age, while those 18to 20 years and specialized earned a minimum of 616 francs. The cor-responding rates for girls under 20 years of age were 312 to 466 francs,and for those 18 to 20 and specialized, 516 francs.

If employees in these industries were boarded and lodged the fol-lowing deductions were made from their monthly wages: 330 francs formen for board and 300 francs for women and 30 francs for both sexesfo r lodging, while the deductions for boys ranged from 200 to 250francs, according to age, and from 200 to 230 francs for girls. Themonthly deduction fo r housing families was at the rate of 25 francsper room, unfurnished, exclusive of light 'nd heat. The additionalallowance for workmen with families was 25 francs per month for one child,60 francs for two children, 120 francs for three, 200 francs for four,and 100 francs for each child above the fourth.

Owing to the perishable nature of the products handled th e 40-hour week had not yet been applied in these industries. Working hourswere 9 per day and 54 per week, and in general overtime was not neces-sary. If overtime was worked, the rate fo r the first 2 hours was timeand one-quarter and fo r each additional hour time and one-third.

Perfumery and Essential Oils IndustryThere is only one class of workers in this industry in Grasse(Maritime Alps) aside from the technicians and the employees on a

monthly basis. The hourly rate for men in May 1938 was 5.20 francsand for women 3.55 francs. Overtime is allowed only in crop periodsand, according to the day on which it is performed, is paid for atthe rate of time and one-quarter to time and one-half.


41/115

38Coal Mining

The 40-hour week became applicable to the coal-mining industry onNovember 1, 1936. After that time various changes took place affectingwages, as well as the working and social conditions of the coal-mine em-ployees. At the end of 1937 the number of persons employed by the coal-mining industry throughout France was 245,316, as against 231,951 at theend of 1936, and by the end of the first quarter of 1938 the number hadrisen to 246,984 persons, of whom 153,905, or 62 percent, were employedin the important Northern Basis, comprising the mines of the Departmentsof the Pas-de-Calais and the Nord.

The duration of the underground worker's presence in the mine couldnot exceed 38 hours and 40 minutes per week nor 7 hours 45 minutes pershift. Duration of presence was reckoned from the time a miner left thesurface until his return. In the mines in the Northern Basin the dura-tion of the descent and ascent was about 4 minutes each, and the averagetime traveling underground was 48 minutes. As a daily break of 25 min-utes for lunch was allowed, the actual working time was about 6 hoursand 24 minutes. The hours of surface workers were,in general, 40 perweek and 8 per day, with an uninterrupted rest of 48 hours includingSunday. However, certain exceptions to these hours were allowed.

In the mines of the Northern Basin about one-half of the undergroundworkers, including hewers, loaders, truck drivers, and gallery cutters,were paid on a piece-work basis, according to the amount of coal extracted.The men worked in groups of 5 to 50 men under a foreman paid separatelyby the mine operators. The earnings of the gang were calculated at th eend of a 15-day period on the number of "berlines" (i.e., wagonettes witha capacity of 500 kilograms or 1,102 pounds). The rate per berline variedaccording to the obstacles and difficulties encountered in the vein andwas determined by the foreman. In cases of disagreement between the fore-men and the men as to the rate, the pit engineer was called in to makethe decision. The lowest rate paid in recent years was approximately 4francs and the highest 10 francs. The total earnings of the gang weredivided according to the grade of the workers. There are four grades ofhewers-grades 10, 9.3, 8.5, and 8. Grade 10 men are the most proficientand ordinarily the highest paid, while grades 9.3 to 8 are usually lessefficient hewers and juniors qualifying for the higher ratings. Approx-imately 33 percent of the underground workers are grade 10 men.

Surface workers of 14 to 21 years of age received minimum rates,varying according to age and including the bonuses, ranging from 21.82francs for boys aged 14 to 14 years to 43.60 francs at age 20 to 21.The rates for female workers ranged from 21.82 francs for girls of 14to 28.78 francs for women aged 18 and over. The rates for laborers onthe surface over 21 years of age were 44.46 francs per day and for la-borers in full possession of physical strength 46.20 francs. When skilledsurface workers were called upon to work underground, they received a sup-plement or additional bonus equal to 15 percent of their normal wage forthe period underground.


42/115

37Supplementary bonuses varying according to conditions were paid forunhealthful work.

Workers who were heads of families were housed free except for anominal upkeep charge ranging from 7 to 20 francs per month, and in prac-tically all cases there was a small garden included. Single men were notfurnished quarters. Free water was supplied, as well as free fuel amount-ing to about 4 tons of coal a year for each household, on which a cartagefee of 1 franc to 4 francs per ton was charged. All workers contributed1.9 percent of their wages to locally organized sick-benefit societiesunder State control, the mining companies making an equal contribution.These societies were operated independently of the social-insurance system.Workers received free medical treatment and appliances and a daily cashbenefit ranging from 6 to 15 francs per day, in general the higher ratebeing paid for workers over 20 years of age. All workers, through paymentto the Miners' Pension Fund, operated nationally, qualified for old-agepensions of 7,000 francs after 30 years' service, or proportionally forservice of 15 to 29 years. The employer contributed an amount equal tothe workers' contributions.

In the event of the worker being able to take advantage of the pro-visions of a law of April 7, 1936, granting a temporary allocation tominers at the age of 50 years with 20 years' service underground, he wasentitled to a pension of 7,000 francs in 1938 at 52 years of age, in 1939at 51 years of age, and in 1940 and thereafter at 50 years of age. Familyallowances amounted to 1.60 francs per day for the first child, 2.50 francsfo r the second, 3.50 francs fo r the third, 4.50 francs for the fourth,' and5.50 francs for th e fifth and each child over that number, for each effec-tive day of work, and were increased by 20 percent when the working per-iod did not exceed 5 days per week. Workers called out during the nightand on Sunday and holidays for exceptional and urgent work received timeand one-quarter for such overtime.

The deductions from the miners' wages on account of the three typesof insurance amounted to about 7.55 percent of their earnings, of which5.5 percent is paid to the pension fund, 1.9 percent to the sick-benefitfund, and 0.15 percent to the coal fund.

Iron MinesThe collective agreement adopted May 7, 1938, in the iron mines of

Lorraine (Strasbourg district) established a rate of 40 francs per day forminers of the first class and 36 francs for miners of the second classand for loaders. The rate for men operating mechanical loaders was 37francs. Truss builders and track layers received 35 francs per day andtheir helpers 30 francs. The rate fo r operators of electric trains was35 francs and of horse trains 32.50 francs. Mine laborers received 30francs. The wages of miners in open mines were 3 francs below those ofunderground miners. Young workers in the mine between the ages of 15and 21 received from 15 to 29 francs, according to age, and above ground10 to 26 francs.

--- -L.---l- -~L

am="*-


43/115

38Potash Mines

By the terms of the collective agreement, effective April 15, 1938,in the potash mines of Alsace, skilled workers over 20 years of age re-ceived 62 francs per day and 53.50 francs between the ages of 18 and 20.Skilled workers of these ages without a certificate of ability received59.40 francs and 50.90 francs, respectively. Construction workers re-ceived 57.80 francs per day; machine operators, 57.20 francs; pickmen,5.7.20 francs, and their helpers 52 francs; and loaders and shovelers,51.70 francs. Elevator loaders and car handlers between the ages of 16and 20 were paid from 40.50 to 47.50 francs. The daily wages of surfaceworkers ranged from 24.60 francs fo r day laborers 14 to 15 years of ageto 59.40 francs fo r skilled workers over 21.

RailroadsAll the main-line railways in France were united in a national sys-

tem on January 1, 1938, and the wage scale was therefore Nation-wide.Railroad workers, in general, received increases of about 3 percent oftheir salaries or wages every 6 months for the first 4 years with twosimilar increases after long service. The employees were divided intofour groups. The first of these groups (the commissioned personnel),consisting of train and station employees, chiefs and subchiefs of la-borers and maintenance workers, inspectors, station masters, etc., weredivided into 18 wage classes. The minimum basic wages in force in May1938 ranged from 8,600 francs per year for the lowest class to 19,540francs for th e highest, and the maximum from 11,200 francs to 51,740 francs,respectively. The second (locomotive) group is divided into six wage classesmade up of switch-engine drivers, firemen, yard engineers, and electric andlocomotive engineers. The minimum rates for these workers ranged from 8,830francs per year to 11,200 francs and the maximum from 11,260 francs to18,400 francs. The minimum rates of the third group (maintenance employees),consisting of laborers, drivers' and electricians' helpers, foremen, inspec-tors, assistant chief electricians, and the heads of electrical stations ofthe fourth class, ranged from 8,600 francs to 10,880 francs per year andthe maximum from 11,200 francs to 18,780 francs. Shop workers, who formedthe fourth class, received minimum daily wages ranging from 27.50 francs forlaborers to 31.80 francs for skilled workers and assistant foremen and amaximum rate ranging from 36.50 francs to 46.80 francs, respectively.

From April 1, 1937, permanent employees having a net annual wage ofless than 30,000 francs were granted a special supplement to wages not toexceed 100 francs per month, and from October 1, 1937, an additional sup-plement of 1,200 francs per year was paid to workers earning less than30,000 francs and of 1,000 francs for those earning more, with an annualsupplement for minors and apprentices ranging from 300 to 600 francs. Aresidence allowance was made which varied according to the size of the city.It was raised twice in 1937 and in May 1938 was 3,630 francs for employeesresiding in Paris and proportionately less in other sections of the country.

JHbfwl-Yui

I -~I~L~SChg


44/115

u~ ImmII

Subways, Paris

Employees in Paris subways received, in addition to their regularwages, a temporary annual supplement granted as of October 1, 1937, anda rent bonus of 2,700 francs for employees residing.in Paris or within25 kilometers of th e city and a smaller amount if living farther from thecity. The wages of chief engineers, as established in 1936, ranged froma minimum of 50,000 to a maximum of 70,000 francs a year; works' engineers,from 37,500 to 60,000 francs; and maintenance chiefs and inspectors from31,500 to 45,000 francs; motormen, from 14,300 to 16,300 francs; and guards,linemen, etc., from 13,400 to 15,000 francs. The temporary annual supple-ment, based on earnings and date of employment, ranged from 1,000 to 3,000francs.

Street Railways, HavreThe hourly wages of operating employees of the street-railway system

of Havre were based on the 40-hour week divided into 6 days of 6 hours and40 minutes. Conductors, motormen, and bus drivers were classified accord-ing to length of service. The average daily wages of these employees, es-tablished on January 1, 1938, were 41.95 francs for the class with over 20years' service, 39.85 francs for those with 15 to 20 years' service, 38.15francs with 10 to 15 years' service, 36.50 francs with 5 to 10 years' ser-vice, 35.20 francs with 1 to 5 years' service, and 34.35 francs with 1 year'sservice. Temporary employees or extras were paid a flat rate of 30.15 francsper day. Time and one-half was paid for overtime. Uniforms were to be fur-nished by th e company. Employees received th e usual Departmental family al-lowances and vacations with pay. Six percent of wages was deducted for thecompany pension fund.

r I-Y~-IL


45/115

40.SlippingIndustry

Wages in the shipping industry were fixed by the national collectiveagreement of June 24, 1936, concluded between representatives of ship-owners and of the marine workers' syndicates. In the Bouches-du-RhoneDepartment a spe'ial agreement was concluded covering six ports, includ-ing the port of Marseille. The national agreement and the supplementaryregional one were made effective as of June 15, 1936. After that timewages were increased, and table 8 gives the scale which was in effectafter December 1937.

Table 8.--Monthly Wages of Seamen in the Marseille District, 1938average exchange rate of franc in May 1938=2.81 cent7

Overtime Food al- Cost-ofRank Wjages per rate per lowance livingmonth allowancehour per day per month

Francs Francs Trance FrancsBoatswain 825.00 7.10 22.00 75.00Boatswain's mate 810.00 7.10 22.00 75.00Able seaman 725.00 6.00 20.00 65.00Ordinary seaman 640.00 5.40 20.00 65.00Novice and mess boy 375.00 3.60 20.00 35.00Cabin boy or apprentice 285.00 2.40 20.00 35.00Chief stoker 825.00 7.10 22.00 75.00Wiper 825.00 7.10 22.00 75.00Stoker 790.00 6.50 20.00 65.00Trimmer 725.00 6.00 20.00 65.00

Stevedoring IndustryWages of stevedores in Havre were fixed by an arbitreLdecision,

February 28, 1938, at 63.50 francs for a day of 6 hours and 40 minutesfrom 8 to 11:20 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:50 p.m. The overtime and nightrates were 16.50 francs per hour between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 4:50and 6:50 p.m., and 19 francs per hour between 11:20 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.and at night after 6:50 p.m. The rate for night shifts from 8 p. m.to 2:40 a.m. was 127 francs per shift and from midnight to 6:40 a. i.,138 francs per shift.

Talley men or checkers received 67.50 francs per day of 6 hours and40 minutes whether or not a full day was worked. For overtime the rateranged from 17.75 to 20.25 francs per hour, For work on night shiftsthe rate was 135 francs per shift or 146 franca for the late shift.

6-


46/115

41The social-insurance contribution amounted to 2 francs per day.

The basic wages of stevedores in Rouen in May 1938 were 59.50 francsper day of 6 hours and 40 minutes and at Bordeaux 55.50 for general cargo,61.50 francs for coal passers, and 60.50 francs for handling pit props.At Rouen longshoremen received 6.70 francs per hour with an increase of30 percent for overtime up to midnight and 75 percent after midnight , andt ime and one-hal f for work performed on Sunday and hol idays . Paid vacationswere provided for longshoremen.

Building Trades,Marseille.--The hourly rates for building workers, shown in table 9,

were in effect in March 1938 in the Bouches-du-Rhone Department.Overtime was authorized only in exceptional cases, but if worked the

regular rate was paid for the first hour, t ime and one-quarter for the sec-ond hour, end time and one-half thereafter. Double time, however, was paidfor overtime from midnight to 6 a.m., and on Sunday and holidays.

Table 9.--Hourly Wages in the Building Trades in Marseille,March 1938

Occupation ; Hourly wage rate (francs)

Masons 8.52Skilled laborers 7.44Skilled cement workers 9.00Semiskilled cement workers 8.52Concrete mixers and ironworkers 7.68Tile layers 10.50Tile layers, assistants 7.74Roofers 8.64Plasterers 9.00Excavators 7.44Crane operators 7.56Steam-shovel operators 9.60Carpenters 9.12Asphalt workers, skilled 8.64Plumbers 8.52Metal fitters, locksmits 8.34Riveters 8.04Laborers 7.14

dII


47/115

42

Wages After the Armistice

Shortly after the armistice, which would normally have broughtthe suppression of the regulation of wages provided for duringhostilities, the State on the contrary assumed total control of themovement of wages. In the absence of exact statistics on the wagemovement in France, it is difficult to measure with any certaintythe effect of the control policy on the standard of living. TheFrench trade-union press, controlled by the authorities, estimatedthe reduction in real wages was from 40 to 50 percent. This reduc-tion in the buying power of wages occurred in spite of the pricestabilization decreed by law of October 21, 1940. Also, at differ-ent times the Government has granted additional wage allowances inthe more important industries to meet the rising cost of living.

f---


48/115

43

Actual Wages During the OccupationThe workers' average income was reported to be more than 50 percent

below th e minimum subsistence level in May 1942. The maxinum wage ratesas fixed by the Government were about 1,700 francs per month in th e De-partment of th e Seine, and approximately 1,200 francs in 15 other areas,including M arsei lles , 1,350 francs, an d Lyons, 1,225 francs. Women'swages were everywhere 10 to 20 percent lower. Incomes of 800 to 1,000francs a month for men were not unusual particularly in the rura l areas.Any wage increases which might be followed by an immediate advance inprices were ruled out by the Government. In the public services sal-aries ranged from 28 to 42 francs per day and teachers salaries, from13,000 to 18,000 francs per year.

According to an order of the German Military Commander in Paris ofSeptember 5, 1942, Reich German personnel resident in France before May10, 1940 was to be paid 25 percent above the customary French wage inthe locality.A recent compilation (earlier referred to) showing money and realwages and cost of living in 194+0, 41, and 42, based on unofficial re-

turns, shows the following movements:

first half of 1930100J]June

Money wages 113 113 -Cost of living 119 142 150Real wages 95 801/ October figure.


49/115

44Wage Laws and ReMlations

In the previous discussion of wages reference was made to the moreimportant laws anf regulations regarding wages. In this section theselaws and regulations are reviewed in greater detail, as well as thoserelating to wages on public contracts and wages of home workers.

Pre-War RegulationPublic contracts.-4-Wage regulation in France dates back to the

Millerand Decrees of. August 10, 1899, one of which made it compulsoryto include in the terms of State contracts.a rovision for the paymentof wages at the going rate for the occupation or area and the othertwo made it possible for departments, communes, and welfare institu-tions to include such provisions in their contracts. Wage provisionsof existing collective agreements were to be used as a basis for de-termining th e appropriate rates or, in their absence, boards consist-ing of equal numbers of employer and employee members were to be con-sulted as to the proper rate of payment. Application of these meas-ures was extensive during the war years, 1914-1918.

Home. workers.-The first law fixing wages of home workers was en-acted on July 10, 1915. It covered female workers and indirectly esin the clothing industry. Under the terms of the legislation the scopecould be widened and the provision was later invoked in related indus-tries. Fixation of minimum rates was to be entrusted to the laborcouncils-for which statutory provision was made on July 17 , 1908 butwhich were never established-or, in their absence,. to special bodiesprovided for in th e legislation covering home work. The latter bodieswere to be set up by th e prefect of the department and were to consistof departmental wage and trade assessment committees. Departmentalwage committees fixed basic wages and minimum time rates and th e tradeassessments committees determined th e time needed fo r the manufactureof mass production articles as a basis for fixing minimum piece rates.Appeals against rates were permissible and were heard by a centralboard sitting at the Ministry of Labor. If no objection was made, therates became compulsory one month after their publication in the Ad-ministrative records of the department. Rates were required to berevised not less than once every three years.

Enforcement provisions consisted of facilitating the work of check-in g th e application or nonapplication of th e act; ensuring supervisionthe strict sense of its application and setting up penalties for in-fringemnent, As the law required that the schedules of prices to bepaid should be posted by employers and each worker was given a recordof rates covering each lot of goods, he was to handle, the factory in-spectors' work of enforcement was facilitated. Final assurance of theobservance of the law could only be ensured by resort to civil actionas the legislation did nbt expressly authorie labor inspectors to veconformity of th e wages paid with th e minimum rates fixed.


50/115

Minimum wages of home workers were again dealt with by legislation onAugust 1, 1941 providing that all home workers, male and female, shouldreceive not less than the minimum rates of pay fixed by the prefects.The prefects were bound to consult with the committees which previously hadthe power to establish wage rates. The law empowered the Secretary ofState fo r Labor to fix home-work rates that differed from those specifiedby the prefect and no appeal is permissible in such cases. Minimum wagesmust be fixed in accordance with the wage for persons of average skilldoing the same kind of work. Changes in rates may be made ex officio orat the request of the Government department concerned, if changes haveoccurred in the general average level of wage rates in the industry con-cerned.

Popular Front.--Certain of the early laws enacted by the PopularFront Government were designed to extend wage standardization in in-dustry and commerce. Both the law of June 24, 1936 concerned with col-lective agreements and that of December 31, 1936 establishing conciliationand arbitration procedure had for their purpose fixation of minimum wagerates (and other conditions of employment). If rates could not be agreedon voluntarily through collective bargaining they were to be imposed byconciliation and arbitration. Under the June 24 law the terms of a col-lective agreement made by a single branch of industry might be made acommon rule for the entire industry or region by Ministerial Order and thusattain very general application.

Agricultural workers we

civil affairs handbook france section 9

Documents