1 SAINT VINCENT. ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR FOR THE YEAR 1954. CONTENTS. Paragraphs. I. Staff-including Duties and F.huncial Provision 1- 9 II. General Review: Population 10 Employment 11 Unemployment 12 Training Schemes 13-14 Wages 15-16 III. Industrial Relations 17-22 IV. Safety, Health and Welfare 23-26 V. Living Conditions 27-29 VI. Health 30-32 VII. Sociological Aspects 33-34 VIII. Social Security 35--36 IX. Women and Children -97-39 X. Legislation 40 XI. Miscellaneous 41-42 I. STAFF. 1. The Staff of the Department of Labour ,at theo 31st December, 1954, com- prised the following:- Labour Commissioner -C. G. Huggins. Labour Inspector --0.. F. Jack. 2 Junior Clerks -Miss Beryl Richards, Miss Agnes Ross. 2. Miss Agnes Ross, Junior Clerk, was seconded to the Supervisor of Elec- tions from 17th May-9th September, 1954. During her absence, her place was taken by Miss Bridget Marshall. 3. Mr. Winston Charles, a Probationary Clerk temporarily attached to this Department, was awarded a Scholarship to the Imperial College of Tropical -Agriculture in Trinidad. Mr. Charles left for the Imperial College on 28. 9. 54 . and his place was taken by Miss Marlene Wilson. 4. Mr. G. F. Jack, Labour Inspector, was temporarily transferred to the Income Tax Office as Acting2 Inspector of Income Tax as from 1st October 1954. The Department has been up to the 31st December, 1954.. without the service of a Labour Inspector. 5. Miss Beryl Richards was granted casual leave followed by sick leave from 4th November-31st December, 1954 6. Duties of Labour Commissioner: The duties of the Labour Commis- sioner include the following:- (1) To investigate all representations made by employers and employees with a view to settling disputes and improving Labour relations. (2) To advise and assist Trade Unions in organisation and Trade Union practice. (3) To visit the various places of employment including factories with a 4 view to studying wage-rates, hours of work, conditions of work in general as well as living conditions. (4) To advise employers 'and employees on claims arising under the Work- men's Compensation Ordinance. (5) To .assist in the placing of employees in employment. (6) To collect and collate statistics relating to labour including cost-of- living statistics. (7) To ensure the enforcement of labour legislation. (8) To advise Government on labour matters. 7. Duties of Labour Inspector: The Labour Inspector assists the Labour Commissioner in ensuring the due enforcement of labour legislation and in-the investigation of minor disputes; he collects and tabulates labour statistics includ- ing cost-of-living statistics; he also helps to place workers in employment. *' ^"v ),