Palestine Has Western Standards of Labor

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

A report on labor conditions in Palestine, submitted to the International Labor Conference here, states that “labor legislation in Palestine is as yet in its infancy though a commencement has been made during the past twelve months.

“The difference between Jews and Arabs cause great difficulties on all labor questions,” the report continues. “The Arab population is accustomed to primitive conditions and, generally speaking, an Arab working for an employer of his own race receives a wage much inferior to that given to a Jew by a Jewish employer.

“Measures for the institution of uniferni conditions of labor would probably be helpful in improving the relations between the two elements of the population.

“In spite of the prevailing difficulties, the Palestine labor organizations have continued to be active and to carry out experiments which make the country an excellent observation field. The General Confederation of Jewish Workers has set up various technical branches and social service institutions. These are run on a mutual aid basis, and provide for accident insurance and sickness insurance. Generally speaking, it may be said that the conditions of life and labor of Jewish workers tend to approximate to those prevailing in the west in such matters as standards of living, average pay, and the length of working hours,” the report states.