Social and Labor Laws Unenforced in Palestine

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It is a well known fact that social legislation in Palestine is only in its infancy, declares the Internation Federation of Trade Unions. “Among the few regulations existing in this sphere are those dealing with the employment of women and children, ‘Davar,’ the organ of the Palestine trade union centre, points out in its last number, however, that even the few regulations which exist are by no means applied. The passage in question runs as follows:

“‘It decrees an eight hour day for boys and girls under 16, no night labour for women and children, and a weekly day of rest. But it fixes the age limit for children at 12, while usually it is 14. Moreover, it covers only industrial undertakings, affording no protection whatsoever to children employed in agriculture in house and shop service, in road making, etc. And these are legion. There is no reason why they should not be brought in, at least gradually. (The fact that children are employed on road construction by government contractors is a crying shame.) Still less is there a reason why such abuses as have been pronounced illegal should not be actually prevented. Yet from the outset the Government seems to have missed the lesson taught by the history of factory legislation, that it is more than useless to legislate unless there is efficient inspection to enforce the measures prescribed. The Jerusalem Workers’ Council had again and again to draw official attention to the wholesale violation of the law. Even after certain officials were saddled with the office of factory inspector in addition to their regular duties, no appreciable change was noticeable.”

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