British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 749

CHAPTER XVII.

a return to free bargaining and freedom to declare strikes and lockouts. Arab workers ask for the continuance of the Order until peacetime legislation has been substituted. Legislation providing machinery for conciliation and free arbitration is now in course of preparation and will be introduced as soon as possible after the Ordinance establishing trade unions on a legal basis has been enacted.

33. Factory inspection is one of the principal pre-occupations of the Regional Offices. The number of establishments inspected in 1943, 1944 and 1945 were 3,779, 5,747 and 4,700 respectively. The objects of inspection are to insure compliance with the Machinery (Fencing) Ordinance*, the Steam Boilers Ordinance* , the Trades and Industries (Regulation) Ordinance ***, the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance and the Ordinances governing the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children and to raise the standards of welfare and 'good house-keeping' in work places.

34. The Machinery (Fencing) Ordinance, the Steam Boilers Ordinance and parts of the Trades and Industries (Regulation) Ordinance, which have hitherto been administered by the Department of Labonr, have been superseded by the Factories Ordinance, 1946 . This Ordinance is closely modelled on the English Factories Act of 1937 and makes much more elaborate and effective provisions for safety and welfare than the Ordinances which it replaces; it provides that certain important categories of work places, hitherto unprovided for, such as docks, ships under construction and repair, building operations and works of engineering construction will be brought within the scope of the law.

35. The Industrial Employment of Women and Children Ordinance, 1927, was superseded in August, 1945, by two Ordinances, one relating to the employment of women and the other to the employment of young persons and children. The provisions of these Ordinances show a great advance on those of the Ordinance of 1927 and standards are introduced compatible with the requirements of the International Labour Office Conventions. The following are among the most important advances realised by this legislation :-

(a) The minimum age for employment in industry has been raised from 12 to 1-1.
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* Drayton, vol. II, page 895.
** Drayton, Vol. II, page 1373.
*** Drayton, vol. II, page 1454.

Gazette No. 1423 of 11/7/45, Supplement No. l, pages 101 and 87 respectively.
Gazette No. 1472 of 5/2/46, supplement No. 1, page 63.

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