British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 739

CHAPTER XVII.

From this table it is evident that there have been substantial increases in basic wage rates during the war, apart from any accretions such as cost of living allowances or special war bonuses, which were paid in order to alleviate, in part, the prejudice which rising prices caused to real wages.

19. This tendency to force up basic wages has been even more marked in the construction trades. Table 5 indicates wage rates for different types of skill and shows the daily wages both for Arabs and for Jews, the latter including cost-of-living allowances. Moreover, the wage rates are expressed as percentages of the corresponding rates in 1939. In this industry the increase in Arab rates considerably exceeds the increase in the Jewish rates; but in both sectors the increasing rates reflect the pressure on the labour market resulting from the impact of greater building activity on a general labour shortage.

20. Table 6 indicates the manner in which total earnings of Arabs and Jews in industry and in transport have risen during recent years. In considering earnings instead of wage rates, it is to be noted, as would be expected, that the former rise more steeply, since they comprise overtime pay and all allowances.

21. Some insight into the position of a person in receipt of a monthly salary can be obtained from table 7 which shows the additional allowances accruing on a salary of £P .10 per month.

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