Table 3 showing Basic Daily Wage Rates in Agriculture 1939 And 1944/45 in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 737. Chapter XVII: Labour And Wages: Section 2: Wages and Earnings

CHAPTER XVII.

Table 2-(contd.).

Occupation

11939

1943

Index numbers

1944 . 1939 = 100

1939 1943 1944

B. Jewish labour-females: -

Cardboard maker 182 230 270 100.0 126.4 148.4
Packer-leaf sorter
(tobacco) 200 239 270 100.0 119.5 135.0
Winder 214 297 320 100.0 138.8 149.5
Shirt maker 190 254 260 100.0 133.7 13fl.8
Sewer 218 256 260 100.0 117.4 119.3
Unweighted geometric average 100.0 126.9 137.4

17. The same factors as have operated to increase industrial wage rates have also operated in the case of agricultural wages, as can be seen from table 3. The wages as stated in themselves already include an element of compensation for rising living costs. As with industrial wages, Arab wage rates in agriculture have risen more steeply than Jewish rates.

Table 3.

DAILY WAGE RATES IN AGRICULTURE 1939 AND 1944/45.

JEWISH LABOUR

ARAB LABOUR in the ARAB EMPLOYMENT

1944/45 Percentage 1939

OCCUPATION I I Increase
1,500 114
800 650 300 251
750 600 295 264
1,000 - 344 MAIN

1939

Citrus.
Packer 11~ -1 - -1- -1700
Pruner - 500 - 317 - 200 185
General
labourer 100 60 400 300 300 400 190 165
Other
branches
Ploughing I 100 ~I:~ -1 - -1225
Hoeing - 350
Tobacco 110 250 264 257
18. Table 4 demonstrates the rise that has occurred during the war in union wage rates for certain occupations. They are basic rates and do not include any cost-of-living allowances. The table provides information for each of the three large towns. In certain instances the minimum and maximum limits of the rates are shown.

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